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/Jmericantsm 





He is known thruout the land as the “Father of His Country.” He led 
the Colonial Army to victory. He was chosen, unanimously, the first 
President of the United States of America, “First in War, First in 
Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen,” by Richard Henry Lee. 


GEORGE WASHINGTON 








Americanism 


By 

HUBERT BECKWITH GROVES 

/ ournalist-Historiographer 
Meviber Oregon Writers’ League 
Member Americanization Council, Portland 


introduction jby 

S. C. KOHS/Ph.D. 

Author, Intelligence Measurement 
Professor Psychology, University of Oregon, Portland Center 
Asst. Professor Psychology, Reed College, Portland, Ore. 
Psychologist, Court of Domestic Relations, Portland, Ore. 




Foreword by i 

JOHN T. HOTCHKISS 7 

Founder, Oregon Writers’ League 



BOYER PRINTING AND ADVERTISING CO. 
PORTLAND, OREGON 

1923 

2 / 



Gt?5 


Copyright 1923 
Hubert Beckwith Groves 



** A 



FF811 *24 


I 


©C1A7'J8261 

^IAK> ^ 




Introduction 


5 


Americanism 


INTRODUCTION 

UMAN psychology reveals the existence of a 
definite “drive” toward group unity, or what 
some have called “the herd instinct/’ There 
is a grave doubt regarding the ultimate coal¬ 
escence of humankind through the destruction 
of national entities so that each will call the 
other “brother,” all speak the same tongue, think the 
same thoughts, battle for the same ideals, and live in 
perfect harmony and understanding, one with his neigh¬ 
bor throughout the world. This is an ideal for which to 
strive. But it is extremely doubtful whether the aver¬ 
age human being can lend himself within the very near 
future to the radical mental and moral reconstruction 
necessary to achieve the afore-mentioned results. Na¬ 
tional divisions are inevitable. But it should be our 
task to assist each nationality to its maximum social 
and spiritual self development as well as to evolve a 
closer and more harmonious coordination of inter¬ 
national interests. 

We, in the United States, have our duty to perform. 
Our efforts should in large part be devoted to increasing 
and intensifying in the minds of our growing youth, 
the millions of our future active citizens, the under¬ 
standing of what our great democracy represents, what 
have been its ideals and what are still its predominant 
moral values. If our government is to continue to live, 
and if it is to improve in its spiritual force in the world, 
this will only be accomplished by transmitting to the 
growing generation satisfactory conceptions regarding 
the foundation stones upon which this democracy of 










Americanism 


6 


Introduction 


ours has been constructed, and along what lines en¬ 
deavor must be launched in order to safeguard its con¬ 
tinued existence. 

Mr. Groves has succeeded in writing one of the es¬ 
sential primers to an enlightened consciousness on the 
part of our youth regarding the ideals of our democ¬ 
racy, In simple, pithy, romantic and pointed historical 
summaries and anecdotes, he has compiled an introduc¬ 
tory manual to good citizenship. In weaving all his 
material around the flag, he has followed good psycho¬ 
logical and pedagogical precepts. We continually deal 
with symbols. It is in the nature of human minds to 
develop such short-cuts to abstract thought. Our flag 
is rich in tradition, profound in its symbolism. It rep¬ 
resents our idealism, our unselfishness, our heroism, our 
regard for human rights, our concern for the oppressed 
and persecuted of all lands, our faith in humanity, and 
in the capacity of the average man to rise to higher and 
higher levels of social and moral self consciousness and 
self realization. 

Give me a boy or a girl who loves the flag and what 
it symbolizes, a love that is not blind or forced, but one 
that is full of understanding and of devotion, a love 
that makes the heart beat fast and strengthens the will 
for the supreme sacrifice,—and I say to you, there you 
have the making of the essential citizenship of our great 
American democracy. 

S. C. KOHS. 

Portland, Oregon, 

June 25, 1923. 




Foreword 


7 


Americanism 


FOREWORD 

T a meeting of the Coffee Cup Club a few 
evenings ago there arose a discussion of the 
meaning of “Americanism.” 

Said one, “Is it not a state of mind—largely 
idealism? Our conception of government is 
founded largely upon certain idealistic theories 
of religious freedom, economic freedom and social 
equality. And in this day idealism comes off rather 
badly in the conflict with materialism. With increas¬ 
ing frequency victory rests with those who deny that in 
any sense they are their brother’s keepers.” 

“All of which may be true,” said another; “material¬ 
ism, selfishness, and greed may seem more and more to 
dominate, but Americans are essentially idealistic. Our 
form of government is idealistic, and though we may, 
both as individuals and as a nation, fail to measure up 
to the vision that inspired our forefathers, yet it is this 
vision that must in the final analysis be as the ‘pillar 
of cloud by day and of fire by night’ that shall guide 
us out of the wilderness. 

“The old landmarks are obscured or lost sight of in 
the miasma of morally loose and politically unsound 
ideas generated and broadcast by some of the older 
countries. 

“We must,” said he, pounding the table vigorously, 
“unify our forces, and prepare to meet the newer and 
more subtle dangers. We must amalgamate more thor¬ 
oughly the peoples of other nations who have come to 
us in search of freedom from old world conditions, and 
who are prepared to find here their own conception of 
freedom, instead of ours' 






A mericanism 


8 


Foreword 


“Our youth upon whom the future depends must 
understand more thoroughly the principles and ideals 
upon which our republic is founded. 

“As far as that goes,” this he said with an impatient 
shrug, “we, ourselves/ need to get a firmer grasp upon 
fundamental things. 

“We must get back to the sound ideas and ideals of 
those greatest Americans, Washington, Lincoln and 
Roosevelt.” 

This discussion was still fresh in my mind when my 
attention was called to the manuscript of a new book, 
covering many of the points brought up. 

Dealing with those fundamental things in American 
history: the Constitution, Our Flag, the Monroe Doc¬ 
trine, and the Declaration of Independence, and with 
no attempt at personal interpretation, the author, 
Hubert Beckwith Groves, gives us, as the result of two 
years of research, a special compilation of patriotic 
material for which one might search in vain through 
many other volumes. 

It is so rich in both information and inspiration that 
it would appear a well nigh indispensible book for the 
student, the new citizen, the speaker, the public library, 
and the home. 

JOHN T. HOTCHKISS. 

Portland, Oregon 
July 1, 1923. 



Preface 


9 


Americanism 


AUTHOR’S PREFACE 

HAT this volume might be as Professor Kohs 
avers in his introduction, an “essential primer” 
and a “manual to good citizenship,” was the 
thot ever present, in the mind of the author, 
during the many months of research and read¬ 
ing that it necessitated to complete “American¬ 
ism.” 

In early student days, the author would have been 
greatly relieved if he had been able to procure a single 
volume reciting a complete history of “Our Flag.” It 
is hoped that Section One, of “Americanism,” will be 
of some value to those who are seeking information 
about Our National Emblem. 

Regarding the Monroe Doctrine, in Section Two, the 
author has endeavored to write a simple, concise treat¬ 
ise on Our Foreign Policy, showing when this policy 
was laid down, and giving a brief resume of the historic 
prominence it has assumed in American history. 

There are many boys and girls who can recite parts, 
or the whole, of the Declaration of Independence, which 
is no mean accomplishment. In Section Three, the 
author has tried to pen a romantic story, setting forth 
a number of the most historic events which preceded 
the memorable Fourth of July, 1776. This has been 
done with the hope that the reader may have more 
firmly fixed in mind the reasons and the important 
steps which made inevitable the drafting and the sign¬ 
ing of Our National Creed. 







Americanism 


10 


Preface 


There is not a document, in all the world, that is 
more interesting to read than the Constitution of the 
United States of America. The stirring events, the 
blunders and the vicissitudes that led up to the time 
of the Constitutional Convention, 1787, will prove an 
inspiration to any American. In Section Four/the 
author has essayed to convey a highly condensed and 
authentic story of how this Constitution was drafted, 
and to briefly outline some of the most important 
events of history that preceded its ratification; also to 
explain, in skeleton form, the three great departments 
of the Federal Government: Legislative, Executive, 
and Judicial, and to offer a clarifying analysis of the 
Nineteen Amendments. 

A number of the illustrations used were taken from 
“We and Our Government,” by Jenks and Smith. 

The author is deeply indebted to a number of friends 
who have assisted in the collating of material and illus¬ 
trations for “Americanism;” among them being Port¬ 
land Public Library attaches; Professor S. C. Kohs, 
Ph. D., Psychologist and Author; John T. Flotchkiss, 
Founder Oregon Writer's League; John C. Boyer, Mast¬ 
er Printer and Publisher, who gave this volume its 
name, and who assisted in a large measure in making 
“Americanism” possible; William T. Perkins, James W. 
Albert, Vivian Flexner, Thos. H. Collard, Artist, who 
made the drawings of several of the flags, and, most 
especially, the one hundred Oregonians who assisted in 
financing the first edition. 

HUBERT BECKWITH GROVES. 
Portland, Oregon, 

June 30, 1923 




Contents 


11 


Americanism 


CONTENTS 

Our Flag 
Monroe Doctrine 
Declaration of Independence 
Constitution of the United States 
Addenda—Our Presidents 

Section One: Our Flag 

Evolution of the Flag...___14 

History of Our National Flag___—J7-43 

Birthday of the “Stars and Stripes”---30 

Washington’s Coat of Arms_32 

Story of “Betsy” Ross_35 

Thirteen Original Colonies_38 

List of Forty-eight States_38 

Etiquette of the Flag----—---44 

Uses and Abuses of Our National Emblem-44 

When to Fly the Flag---—-— --49 

Saluting the Flag-- 51 

Where Our Flag has gone with honor.-—-56 

Wars of the United States.——.—....---57 

Other American Flags-59 

Famous Flags in America- 65 

Patriotic Songs and Poems- 73 

Section Two: Monroe Doctrine 

Origin of the Monroe Doctrine—LI-88 

Holy Alliance_ 90 

Treaty with Russia-—— -----—93 


































Americanism 12 Contents 


Contents —Continued 

Venezuela Dispute______94 J 

Text of the Monroe Doctrine_ . _101 

Roosevelt warns the Kaiser___;_ 103 

Cleveland’s Message___104 

Wilson on the Monroe Doctrine_ 105 

Harding’s Words_;_ \% 

Section Three: Declaration of Independence 

List of historic dates, 1000 to 1776 _111 

Pilgrims’ Compact-__ H5 

Stamp Act__ ___ \yj 

First Continental Congress_ 121 

Second Continental Congress_*_123 

Memorable Fourth of July_ 131 

Full Text of the Declaration__•__ 135 

Signers of the Declaration_ 140 

Section Four: Constitution of the United States 

Historic dates_ ^ 

New England Confederacy_ 152 

Articles of Confederation_____ 154 

Constitutional Convention__ ^ 

Explaining the three great departments_ 173-197 

LEGISLATIVE—EXECUTIVE—JUDICIAL 

Resume of Amendments_j 9 g 

Full Text of the Constitution_ 211 

Dates of State ratification_ 3g 

Date States were admitted to the Union_ - 3 g 

Addenda: Our Presidents 

Important dates regarding Our Presidents _ __ 236-249 

Story of the White House_ 7 o Q 






















































Our Flag 


13 


Americanism 


Section One 

Our Flag 




Americanism 


14 


Our Flag 


Evolution of the Flag 

N the Divine Administration of the World, the Cre¬ 
ator has always used signs and symbols to impress 
his ideas on mankind. Did He not flash across the 
sky the greatest Flag of all time, when He put the 
'‘Rainbow’' into the Heavens, being a symbol or sign 
that He would never again destroy the Earth by 
water, after He had destroyed all living things upon 
earth except Noah, his family, and two of each kind of beast, 
etc.? 

CUDGELS AND COLORED CLAY 

Man,- too, has always used signs and symbols to convey his 
ideas. Primitive man, in order to distinguish those of his own 
tribe, had a peculiar type of cudgel, or a daub of colored clay 
on his body. The next step was to tie bits of skin of animals 
to poles so that they might be held high in the air, and be 
recognized from a distance. Then later some rude sign on his 
clumsy shield served his purpose. 

It will be remembered that the Crusaders had the cross of 
St. George emblazoned upon their shields, when they marched 
against the infidels of the Holy Land, led by the heroic Anglo- 
Saxon leader, Richard Couer de Leon. 

FIRST FLAG OF AMERICA 

It is of historic interest to know that it was this same flag 
a red cross on a white ground, the Cross of St. George, which 
Richard raised as he came in sight of Jerusalem, in the name 
of He who died on the cross, that was the first flag to wave 
over North American soil, with a permanancy; namely at 
Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. 

Do not the business men of our day have trade marks- 
lodges, emblems; colleges and schools, class pins, etc and 
states and cities their seals? 

“STARS AND STRIPES” 

Now we in America have as our National emblem, the “Stars 
and Stripes” which appears very often a beautifully woven silk 
flag bemg the symbol of the greatest Democracy in all the 
World. 

Thus you can trace very easily the evolution of the flag. 





15 


Americanism 


Our Flag 



Our Flag 

“There is no flag in all the world that 
stirs the hearts of its countrymen like “Our 
Flag,” the “Stars and Stripes.” 

It has ever waved in Victory; it means 
Liberty, Power, and Justice, and it adorns 
our homes and institutions, a glorious em¬ 
blem of the world’s greatest Democracy, the 
United States of America.” 

—Hubert Beckwith Groves. 



Americanism 16 . Illustrations 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


George Washington_ 2 

“Stars and Stripes”__ ; ,■ _15 

First Flag in America_____ • _17 

Ship of Eric the Red _____ i _ 20 

Flag unfurled by Columbus_ 21 

Cross of St. George_^_ f 1 . _^_ 22 

British Red Ensign___i___:_ .i : ... 24 

First National Flag___ •' _: _ 26 

First “Stars and Stripes,” June 14, 1777__:___ 0 

Washington Coat of Arms_____32 

“Stars and Stripes”—by “Betsy” Ross___ 34 

Fifteen Stripes Flag_ 40 

Flag with twenty stars and thirteen stripes... _42 

Confederate Flags_..._58 

Great Seal of the United States_62 

One of America's great heroes_ 69 

Don’t tread on me, Flag_:_'_ 71 

President Monroe_ 86 

Thomas Jefferson_ . 110 

Pilgrims signing Compact_____114 

Pilgrims going to church_ _ . _ 127 

Presenting draft of the Declaration of Independence _134 

Capitol at Washington, D. C...___ 144 

Patrick Henry_,_ 149 

Washington, Madison, Hamilton, Franklin .._165 

House of Representatives Chamber_,_177 

Senate Chamber_ ^ _181 

First Inauguration Day_ 187 

United States Treasury Building__L_ 189 

Supreme Court Chamber..._ 194 

Independence Hall ______ ~ / _210 

White House_____ , 236 

President Harding_ _ ^ 236 

Pictures of Our Presidents___:___ 241-249 


























































Our Flag 


17 


A mericanism 


THE FLAG OF A GREAT PEOPLE 



THE RAVEN OF THE VIKING 

The first Flag or Standard to touch the shores of America. Brought 
by Eric the Red, 1000. 



ROUND the story of "Our Flag” is 
woven the history of Our Country, and 
there is no more romantic account of 
the birth of any nation than that of the 
United States of America. 


Up until the time the "Stars and Stripes” 
became our National Emblem, there had been 
five different Flags or Standards bearing Na¬ 
tional significance in America, which appeared 
in the following order: 






Americanism 


18 


Our Flag 


Raven of the Vikings, 

Brought by Eric the Red, 1000. 

Royal Standard of Spain, 

Unfurled by Columbus, 1492. 

Cross of St. George, 

Thru Cabot discovery, 1497; and Jamestown 
Expedition, 1607. 

British Red Ensign, 

British National Flag, 1707, after Cromwell. 

Continental Grand Union Flag, 

Hoisted by Washington, January 1, 1776. 

"Stars and Stripes”, 

Established by Congress, June 14, 1777. 
"Betsy” Ross Flag. 

Fifteen Stripes and Fifteen Stars Flag. 

Ordered by Congress after Vermont and Ken¬ 
tucky were added as fourteenth and fif¬ 
teenth State, 1792 until 1818. 


Thirteen Stripes—Twenty Stars, 

Return to original Thirteen Stripes, and a Star 
for each State admitted into Union, July 4, 
1818. 

Present "Stars and Stripes”. 

Thirteen Stripes—Forty-eight Stars. 

Arizona was admitted February 14, 1912. 



Our Flag 


19 


Americanism 


SOME EARLY COLONIAL FLAGS 

Altho the first five Flags as outlined above 
were of National significance, it is important 
to remember that in the early days when the 
Thirteen Colonies were weak British holdings, 
there were many local emblems or symbols 
flown. 

During the Revolution there were as many 
flags carried into battle as there are races of 
people in our country now. These Flags were 
of various colors and designs, including there¬ 
on pine trees, rattlesnakes, crescents, palmetto 
trees, and numerous mottoes such as, “Lib¬ 
erty,” “Don't tread on me,” etc. 

FIRST FLAGS IN AMERICA 

Leif Erickson, or Eric the Red, the valiant 
Norseman, is credited with having brought the 
first emblem or banner to North America. This 
hardy Norseman guided his vessels, with cur¬ 
iously shaped figureheads and square sails, to 
the shores of Vinland, Labrador, Nova Scotia 
or the New England coast bringing with him 
the Vikings' standard—the “Raven of the Vik¬ 
ings”—500 years before Columbus set foot up¬ 
on the New World. 



A mericanism 


20 


Our Flag 


This emblem was a raven with extended 
wings, and open bill, and was emblazoned up¬ 
on the great square sail of Erickson's ships. 



. , . _ _ SHIP OF ERIC THE RED 

.T 1 ® ^, rdy Norseman had two symbols ; one a raven emblazoned upon 
i 5 ' enter the ^are sail representing swiftness, and the other a 

hand carved dragon head, at the bow of the ship, representing fierceness. 


COLUMBUS PLANTS SPANISH STANDARD 

Columbus in 1492, planted on the shores of 
Watling Island, in the Bahamas, the royal 
standard of Spain, in the name of Isabella and 
Ferdinand. 









_ 21 Americanism 

This truly royal Flag, arranged in four quar¬ 
ters, its colors, red, gold and silver—the regal 
standard of Castile and Leon—is generally ac¬ 
cepted as being the first Flag to fly over Amer¬ 
ican soil. 



SPANISH STARDARD 

Unfurled by Columbus 1492 on the shores of Watling Island. 


INDIANS HAVE STANDARD 

In the historic account of Columbus' return, 
it reads of his taking with him some of the 
natives from the New World, and it is signifi¬ 
cant that these aborigines, of North America, 
carried with them, to Spain, a standard of their 
own, which was a pole full fledged or covered 
with the wings and feathers of an eagle. 









Americanism 


22 


Our Flag 


CROSS OF ST. GEORGE BY CABOT 

John Cabot, whose patron was King Henry 
VII, planted the Cross of St. George on North 
American soil—likely on the northern shores 
of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, in 1497, 
and took possession of the land in the name of 
Henry VII, for England. 



THE CROSS OF ST. GEORGE 

The first Flag to fly with a permanency in America, by Jamestown 
Expedition, 1607. Carried by the Cabots to America, 1497, also by the 
“Pilgrim Fathers” in 1620. 


FIRST PERMANENT FLAG IN AMERICA 

America’s first Flag, that was unfurled with 
a permanency, was an emblem bearing the 
Cross of St. George—being the same emblem 
as was carried by John Cabot. It was brought 
to our shores by members of the Jamestown 
Expedition, which sailed down the Thames 
(England) in mid-winter of 1606-07, and land¬ 
ed in Jamestown, Va., in the spring of 1607. 












Our Flag 


23 


Americanism 


The King's Colors were flown on the English 
vessels from 1607 until 1649, when Cromwell 
did away with the King's Colors, and the Cross 
of St. George became the British National 
Flag, until 1707. 

The King's Colors, (the Union Jack), were 
flown at the mainmast, and the Cross of St. 
George was flown at the bow, but it was the 
Cross of St. George that the voyagers took 
ashore. 

It is interesting to note that the “May¬ 
flower," which brought over the Pilgrim 
Fathers also flew the Cross of St. George; in 
fact this Flag had Colonial identity until 1707. 

RED ENSIGN FOR AMERICA 

In 1707 the complete union of the Kingdom 
of Great Britain, including England, Wales 
and Scotland was formed, and the first Union 
Parliament was convened. This body then or¬ 
dained that the Crosses of St. George and St. 
Andrew be conjoined. 

The National Flag of Great Britain then be¬ 
came the British Red Ensign, which then, in 
turn, became the prominent Flag in the British 
American Colonies. 



Americanism 


24 


Our Flag 


So for many, many years previous to the 
American Revolution, the British American 
Colonies flew the Red Ensign of the Mother 
Country. 



BRITISH RED ENSIGN 

Flown for many years in the Colonies prior to the Revolution. 

COMPOSITION OF RED ENSIGN 

This Flag was composed of a red body, with 
a blue canton holding a union of the Crosses of 
St. George, England, and St. Andrew, Scotland. 

In a flag the canton (Latin, canton means 
corner) is a square in the upper left-hand 
corner of the flag, next the hoist. The hoist is 
the vertical part, dimension, or height of the 
portion next the staff or pole or halyards. The 
union is the device placed in the canton to 
indicate political union. 

The British Jack, or Union Jack, as it is 
commonly called, was also flown. This Flag is 




Our Flag 


25 


Americanism 


none other than the replica of the canton in 
the British Red Ensign, and the present British 
Flag. 

The National Flag of the British Empire 
was modified in 1801, when the Cross of St. 
Patrick of Ireland, was added to the canton. 

FIRST NATIONAL AMERICAN FLAG 

It was inevitable that the Thirteen Original 
Colonies should separate from the Mother 
Country, and naturally a new Flag would be 
necessary. 

The Journals of Congress record that Benj. 
Harrison, Benj. Franklin of Pennsylvania, and 
Thomas Lynch, of South Carolina, were ap¬ 
pointed a committee to confer with Washing¬ 
ton, on regulating the Continental Army, Sep¬ 
tember 20, 1775. 

CONTINENTAL GRAND UNION FLAG 

These men, it is said, were also to discuss 
the composition of a new Flag. There is no 
official record as to this, but records exhibit 
that General George Washington, on January 
1, 1776, hoisted at Army Headquarters, Cam¬ 
bridge, Mass., a Flag of “Thirteen Stripes,” 
red and white alternately, with a blue canton, 
holding the Crosses of St. George and St. An¬ 
drew. 



A mericanism 


26 


Our Flag 


This Flag became the Continental Grand 
Union Flag, and the first American National 
Flag. 



CONTINENTAL GRAND UNION FLAG 
Hoisted by George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Colonial 
Army, January 1, 1776. 

Both the First and Second Continental Con¬ 
gress had been in session in Philadelphia by 
this time, and represented the “United Col¬ 
onies of North America/' Therefore this Flag 
may well be termed the First National Flag. 
Washington had been appointed Commander- 
in-Chief of the Army, and provisions for a 
Navy had been commenced about the time 
Washington first hoisted the Continental 
Grand Union Flag. George Washington says 
of this Flag: 

"We hoisted the Union Flag in compliment to 
the United Colonies, and saluted it with 13 
guns.” 








Our Flag 


27 


Americanism 


In "Our Country’s Flag," being a volume by 
Edward S. Holden, L. L. D., and edited by 
Wm. T. Harris, A. M., L. L. D., United States 
Commissioner of Education, and published by 
Appleton, the author writes: 

“It was necessary to adopt a flag for the Navy 
and the Continental Army as well, and the Con¬ 
gress appointed a committee with Dr. Benj. 
Franklin as its head to go to Cambridge to con¬ 
sult with General Washington and to recom¬ 
mend such a flag. The new flag was first dis¬ 
played at the camp before Boston in January, 
1776, and it represented the exact situation of 
affairs.” 

MARKS UNION OF THIRTEEN COLONIES 

The display of this Flag before the Army 
under Washington meant a new era in Colonial 
affairs, and was the first to be raised as a sym¬ 
bol that the Thirteen Original Colonies were 
united in purpose. 

This Flag was also known as the "Union 
Flag," "The Grand Union Flag" and "The 
Great Union Flag." The last name was given 
it by a writer in the Philadelphia Gazette of 
January 15, 1775, who, in his explanation of 
the title said the Flag showed the union of the 
Thirteen Colonies as the Great Union Flag of 



A mericanism 


28 


Our Flag 


Great Britain did that of England and Scot¬ 
land. 

ADMIRAL HOPKINS FLIES THIS FLAG 

That the "Continental Grand Union Flag” 
was adopted by both the land and sea forces is 
evidenced in a letter that follows, which miss¬ 
ive appears in the American Archives, fourth 
series, Vol. four, page 965. 

Admiral Hopkins was in command of the 
American fleet. His first achievement as com¬ 
mander-in-chief of the Navy was the capture 
of New Providence, when he sailed his fleet 
into the West Indian waters. 

Newburg, N. Carolina, Feb. 9th, 1776. 

“By a gentleman from Philadelphia, we have 
received the pleasing account of the actual sail¬ 
ing from that place of the first American fleet 
that ever swelled their sails on the Western 
Ocean, etc. 

“This fleet consists of five sail, fitted out 
from Philadelphia, which are to be joined at the 
capes of Virginia by two more ships from Mary¬ 
land, and is commanded by Admiral Hopkins, a 
most experienced and venerable sea captain. 

“They sailed from Philadelphia amidst the 
acclamations of thousands assembled on the joy¬ 
ful occasion, under the display of the Union 
Flag, with thirteen stripes in the field, emblem¬ 
atic of the thirteen United Colonies.” 



Our Flag 


29 


A mericanism 


Further evidence is given in an issue of the 
London Ladies' Magazine, under date July, 
1776, in which the following appeared: 


“The colors of the American fleet were striped 
under the Union, with thirteen strokes called the 
Union Colonies, and their standard, a rattle¬ 
snake; motto “Don’t tread on me.” 


MARKS THE VERY SPOT 

A monument of granite marks the spot 
where Washington hoisted the Continental 
Grand Union Flag, on the crown of Prospect 
Hill, at the head of Prospect Hill Ave., Somer¬ 
ville, and the following inscription is engraved 
upon it: 


On this Hill 

the Union Flag with its thirteen stripes, 
the emblem of the 
Union Colonies, 

First bade defiance to an enemy 
January 1, 1776. 

Here was the Citadel 
the most formidable work in the 
American Lines 
During the seige of Boston, 

June 17, 1775, to March 17, 1776. 



A mericanism 


30 


Our Flag 


BIRTHDAY OF “STARS AND STRIPES” 



June 14. 1777, by Congress. 

HERE are no official records showing 
who was responsible for the origination 
of the “Stars and Stripes/' but there is 
certain tangible and much traditional 
evidence that countenances the supposi¬ 
tion that George Washington, the “Father 
of Our Country," was very largely respons¬ 
ible for the origin and composition of the 
first “Stars and Stripes," and that he requested 
“Betsy" Ross, a seamstress in Philadelphia, to 
make the Flag with “Thirteen Stripes," alter¬ 
nating red and white, representing the Original 
Thirteen Colonies, with a blue field, in the 
upper left hand corner, containing Thirteen 
Stars arranged in a circle. 












Our Flag 


31 


Americanism 


This Flag was submitted to the Continental 
Congress, and was adopted by that body on 
June 14, 1777. 

The following is a copy of the resolution 
passed by Congress, at Philadelphia, adopting 
the “Stars and Stripes" as the National Flag: 

“Resolved: That the flag of the Thirteen 
United States be thirteen stripes, alternating red 
and white; that the union be thirteen stars, 
white in blue field, representing a new constella¬ 
tion.” 

This, then, is the Birth of the “Stars and 
Stripes." 

FLAG DAY 

To commemorate the day of the birth of the 
“Stars and Stripes," June 14, 1777, June 14 of 
each year has been set apart as a national holi¬ 
day, and is known as “Flag Day." 

On this day you will find the “Stars and 
Stripes" flying over every Government build¬ 
ing in the country, and over the United States 
Embassy buildings, and other United States 
Government offices in all parts of the world, 
and over millions of homes and public build¬ 
ings in America. Thousands of school children 
on this day are engaged in patriotic exercises 
honoring “Flag Day." 



A mericanism 


32 


Our Flag 


Washington's coat of arms 

The Washington Coat of Arms, as shown 
below, bore red and white stripes with three 
red stars placed across the top white stripe. 
These stars were five pointed, it will be 
noticed. 



WASHINGTON COAT OF ARMS 

Note the Stars and the Stripes. ' The Stripes were red and white and 
the Stars were red, and five-pointed. 

It is said that Benj. Franklin, with whom 
Washington had been closely associated dur¬ 
ing the early days, suggested to Washington 
that five pointed stars be put into the blue field 
of the new National Flag, the "Stars and 
Stripes," such as were in the top white stripe in 
the Washington Coat of Arms, and this was 
finally acceded to. 



Our Flag 


33 


Americanism 


George Washington was always a modest 
man, and this may account for the fact that 
he never referred in public to the probable in¬ 
corporation into the “Stars and Stripes” of the 
red and white stripes as from the red and white 
stripes in his Coat of Arms, or the five pointed 
stars, or both. 

A fine example of this modesty can be noted 
in the story of “Betsy” Ross, that appears in 
the pages following, and it will be remembered 
that when Thomas Jefferson suggested to the 
members of the Continental Congress that they 
make Washington Commander-in-Chief of the 
Army, he fled from the halls of Congress. 

Another striking example of his modesty is 
exhibited in the lines of a speech given shortly 
after the “Stars and Stripes” became the Na¬ 
tional emblem, which reads as follows: 

“We take the stars from Heaven, the red from 
our. Mother Country, separating it by white 
stripes, thus showing that we have separated 
from her, and the white stripes shall go down to 
posterity representing Liberty.” 




34 


Americanism 

— Illl*^— llll — III!—1111—llll' 


Our Flag 



BIRTH OF THE “STARS AND STRIPES” 

“Betsy” Ross showing the first “Stars and Stripes,” just completed by 
her, to George Washington. Hon. George Ross, brother-in-law to 
“Betsy” Ross, who made munitions for the Colonial Army, standing 
to the right. A Continental soldier is holding the Flag. 





Our Flag 


35 


Americanism 


STORY OF “BETSY” ROSS 

“Betsy” Ross (nee Elizabeth Griscom), was 
the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, 
and was born January 1st, 1752. She was mar¬ 
ried when she was quite young to a John Ross, 
son of a minister, whose brother was one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence 
(Hon. George Ross). This latter Ross sup¬ 
plied cannon balls, etc., to the Government, 
and it was while on guard at night over these 
war materials, that, with other young men, 
“Betsy” Ross' husband was injured, from 
which effects he died in January, 1776. 

“Betsy” Ross was an expert needlewoman, 
and had been employed by George Washing¬ 
ton, to embroider his shirt ruffles, and do 
needlework of other kinds. 

SIX POINTED STAR-FIVE POINTED STAR 

Being well aware of the skill of “Betsy” 
Ross, George Washington submitted the de¬ 
sign of the new National Flag, the “Stars and 
Stripes,” to her, and requested her to make 
the first National Emblem of the United States 
of America. 

This design had six pointed stars in the blue 
field, and “Betsy” Ross suggested that the 



A mericanism 


36 


Our Flag 


stars be five pointed, as she demonstrated the 
ease in making a five pointed'star by folding a 
piece of paper and producing one, by a single 
snip of the scissors. 

This produces further evidence that the stars 
may be from the Washington Coat of Arms. 
Washington is quoted as saying during this in¬ 
cident, 

“He preferred a star that would not be an exact copy 
of that on his Coat of Arms, and that he also thought 
that a six pointed star would be easier to make.” 


The five pointed star was then adopted upon 
"Betsy” Ross’ suggestion and practical demon¬ 
stration. 

"Betsy” Ross was a widow when she made 
the original "Stars and Stripes” but afterwards 
married Capt. Jos. Ashburn, who died a pris¬ 
oner of war in the Mill Prison, England, and 
John Claypoole, a prison companion of her 
husband, was her third husband, and he died 
August 3, 1817. 

After useful service to the United States 
Government, for a number of years, making 
flags, she died in 1836, and was succeeded in 
business by her daughter, Mrs. Clarisa Wilson, 
who was engaged in making flags, for the Ar¬ 
senals and Navy Yards, for many years. 



Our Flag 


37 


Americanism 


BUY “BETSY” ROSS HOUSE 

On June 14, 1898, an organization was 
formed, named the American Flag House and 
“Betsy” Ross Memorial to raise funds to pur¬ 
chase thru popular subscription, and preserve 
the historic building, situated at 239 Arch 
Street, below 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa., in 
which the first “Stars and Stripes” was made 
by “Betsy” Ross, and to erect a national me¬ 
morial, in honor of this illustrious woman. 

Altho no one was allowed to subscribe more 
than ten cents to this fund, subscriptions just 
poured in from all parts of the country, and 
hundreds of dimes came in from foreign coun¬ 
tries. Each subscriber was given a certificate 
of membership in the association. 

The purchase price of the house was $25,000, 
and the final payment was made on December 
14, 1905, and then the Association turned the 
house over to the United States Government. 

Across the front of the house is a big sign 
with the words: Birth Place of “Old Glory.” 



A mericanism 


38 


Our Flag 


THIRTEEN STRIPES—THIRTEEN COLONIES 

The Thirteen Stripes in the Flag represent 
the Original Thirteen Colonies, which are listed 
below in the order that they ratified the Con¬ 
stitution : 


1. Delaware _ Dec. 7, 1787 

2. Pennsylvania _ Dec. 12, 1787 

3. New Jersey _ Dec. 18, 1787 

4. Georgia' - Jan. 2, 1788 

5. Connecticut _ Jan. 9, 1788 

6. Massachusetts _ Feb. 6, 1788 

7. Maryland _ Apr. 28, 1788 

8. South Carolina _ May 23, 1788 

9. New Hampshire _ June, 21, 1788 

10. Virginia _ June 25, 1788 

11. New York _ July 26, 1788 

12. North Carolina_ Nov. 21, 1789 

13. Rhode Island __ May 29, 1790 


FORTY-EIGHT STARS—FORTY-EIGHT STATES 

The Forty-Eight Stars in the blue field rep¬ 
resent the Forty-Eight States forming the 
United States of America, which, starting with 
Vermont, the fourteenth State admitted, are 
listed below in the order that they were admit¬ 
ted into the Union. 

14. Vermont - Mar. 4, 1791 

5. Kentucky - June 1, 1792 

6. Tennessee - June 1, 1796 

7 • Ohio ---..._ Nov. 29, 1802 

18. Louisiana - Apr. 30, 1812 































Our Flag 


39 


Americanism 


19. Indiana _..._ Dec. 11, 1816 

20. Mississippi _ Dec. 10, 1817 

21. Illinois _ Dec. 3, 1818 

22. Alabama _ Dec. 14, 1819 

23. Maine _ Mar. 15, 1820 

24. Missouri __ Aug. 10, 1821 

25. Arkansas _ June 15, 1836 

26. Michigan _._ Jan. 26, 1837 

27. Florida _ Mar. 3, 1845 

28. Texas _ Dec. 29, 1845 

29. Iowa _ Dec. 28, 1846 

30. Wisconsin: _,_ r _ May 29, 1848 

31. California __ _ _ Sept. 9, 1850 

32. Minnesota _ May 11, 1858 

33. Oregon ...... __Z_ Feb. 14, 1859 

34. Kansas Z____ Jan. 29, 1861 

35. West Virginia__ .. .-. ^._..;-..rrr.rJiane- 19, 1863 

36. Nevada-* ... „___.Qct.. 31, 1864 

37. Nebraska _,__ „_,„_Mar, 1, 1867 

38. Colorado ___ Aug. 1, 1876 

39. N. Dakota ____Nov. 3, 1889 

40. S. Dakota _ Nov. 3, 1889 

41. Montana _ Nov. 8, 1889 

42. Washington _ Nov. 11, 1889 

43. Idaho _ July 3, 1890 

44. Wyoming _July 8, 1890 

45. Utah ___ Jan. 4, 1896 

46. Oklahoma _ INov. 16, 1907 

47. New Mexico _ Jan. 6, 1912 

48. Arizona _ Feb. 14, 1912 


In addition to the above States, Alaska, Ha¬ 
waii, Porto Rico are Territories, and the 
United States holds the Philippines as a Colon¬ 
ial Possession. 














































Americanism 


40 


Our Flag 


FIFTEEN STRIPES-FIFTEEN STARS 

There are not many Americans who know 
that the “Stars and Stripes" had Fifteen 
Stripes and Fifteen Stars for a period of 
twenty-five years, but this is a fact, neverthe¬ 
less. 



FIFTEEN STRIPES FLAG 

This Flag composed of Fifteen Stripes, and Fifteen Stars, waved as 
Our National Emblem for Twenty-five years. 


When Vermont, the fourteenth State, was 
admitted into the Union, (March 4, 1791), 
and Kentucky, the fifteenth State, (June 1, 
1792), Congress legislated that a new stripe 
and a new star should be added to the Flag. 
This made Fifteen Stripes and Fifteen Stars, 
with the blue field resting on the fifth red 
stripe. 













Our Flag 41 Americanism 


The Flag remained in this design until April 
4 , 1818, and during this twenty-five years 
some of America’s most important historic 
events occurred, namely: 

Navy Department was established, 1798. 

Louisiana Purchase completed, 1803. 

Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison 
and Monroe served as Presidents. 

Five states were admitted into the Union. 

Naval war with France, 1798-1815. 

Tripoli War, Africa, 1801-1805. 

War with Great Britain, 1812-1815. 

Northwest Indian War. 

Creek Indian War. 

" ST A rTs P A N G LED BANNER” WRITTEN 

It was this Flag waving over Fort McHenry, 
that inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the 
"Star Spangled Banner.” Key was an aide to 
General Smith, at Baltimore, and was aboard 
H. M. S. Minden, anchored in the Baltimore 
Harbor, September 18, 1814, pending an ex¬ 
change of war prisoners, and it was while de¬ 
tained on board during a twenty-hour bom¬ 
bardment, that he wrote this famous National 
anthem. The original title of the poem was 
"Defence of Fort McHenry.” 

This Flag now rests in the National Mus¬ 
eum, at Washington, D. C. 



Americanism 


42 


Our Flag 


RETURN TO THIRTEEN STRIPES 

Members of Congress, realizing that the ad¬ 
dition of a stripe to the Flag each time a new 
State was admitted to the Union would soon 
bring the Flag out of all proportion, enacted 
a law that the National Flag should be of the 
former design, Thirteen Stripes, but that a 
star should be added for each new State admit¬ 
ted to the Union. 



tuc auuve nag, 
Thirteen Stripes, and a Star for each State. 


The House gave the bill the third reading 
March 25, 1818, and the Senate agreed to it 
March 31, then the bill was signed by Presi¬ 
dent Monroe, April 4, 1818. 











Our Flag 


43 


Americanism 


Following is the enactment by Congress to 
effect the above change: 

“An Act to Establish the Flag of the United 
States 

“Sect. I. Be it enacted, etc. That from 
and after the fourth day of July next, the Flag 
of the United States be Thirteen horizontal 
stripes, alternate red and white; that the 
Union have 20 stars, white in a blue field. 

“Sect. 2. And be it further enacted, that 
on the admission of every new state into the 
Union one star be added to the Union of the 
Flag, and that such addition shall take effect 
on the fourth of July next succeeding such 
admission. 


JAMES MONROE, 
President.” 




Americanism 


44 


Our Flag 



ETIQUETTE OF THE FLAG 
LTHO there is no Federal enactment 
regulating the display, hanging or salut¬ 
ing of "Our Flag/' or any nationally 
prescribed ceremonies that must be ob- 
__ served, it is believed that every true 
American wishes to reverence and honor his 
Flag. Yet there are times when our glorious 
emblem, the "Stars and Stripes/' is subjected 
to some very regrettable "Uses and Abuses." 

Not any of these offences are intentional, 
but let us think a little more seriously the next 
time we attempt to display "Our Flag." 

There are many regulations and prescribed 
usages, tho, for displaying the National Em¬ 
blem, and The American Flag Association, the 
Sons of the American Revolution and The 
Grand Army of the Republic have been most 
active in drafting rules and regulations, and 
have gone so far as to have bills introduced in 
both the Senate and the House of Representa¬ 
tives, but unfortunately they have been pig¬ 
eonholed. 

The following list of rules will act as a splen¬ 
did guide. They are most authentic, and ap¬ 
peared in the Geographical Magazine, October, 
1917, in "Our Flag Number." Some additions 
and comments have been made by the author. 




Our Flag 


45 


Americanism 


RULES OF FLAG ETIQUETTE 

Uses and Abuses 

When the National Colors are passing on 
parade, or in review, the spectator should, if 
walking, halt, and if sitting arise and stand at 
attention, and uncover his head. 

‘'Our Flag” should be used as much as pos¬ 
sible, in its display, upon the staff. When the 
“Stars and Stripes” are hung upon a wall, if 
horizontal or perpendicular, the canton should 
be in the left upper corner. 

The Flag should never be rolled up and 
hoisted to the top of the staff before being 
unfurled. 

The fly should be free while hoisting, and it 
should be raised quickly. 

The Flag should never be raised or lowered 
by any mechanical device. 

Never hoist the Flag upside down. This is 
permissible, only, when used as a signal of dis¬ 
tress at sea. 

If used as a banner, the Union should point 
to the north in streets running east and west, 



A mericanism 


46 


Our Flag 


and to the east in streets running north and 
south. 

It should be taken down slowly and with 
dignity. 

Never let the Flag touch the ground. 

Never let it trail in the water or the dust. 

A regrettable abuse is that of hanging small 
flags on the bottom of a stage curtain. This 
trails “Our Flag" in the dust, when the curtain 
is raised or lowered. Another grave offence is 
letting the Flag trail in the water at either end 
of a canoe or row boat, or other kind of water 
craft. 

It should never be hung or draped where it 
will become soiled or contaminated. 

Very often the Flag is placed over the hood 
of an automobile (presumedly for patriotic 
purposes) that is participating in a parade. 
When the Flag is removed it is invariably cov¬ 
ered with oil, dust and grease, and is in a most 
dilapidated condition. 

Never drape the Flag over chairs or benches 
for seating purposes. 




Our Flag 


47 


Americanism 


Never place any object or emblem of any 
kind upon it or above it. 

A most regrettable and common practice is 
to drape the Flag over a table at public meet¬ 
ings, and place upon it ice water, books and 
flowers. At the end of the meeting, after the 
speakers have pounded the table, and spilled 
water all over "Our Flag/' this glorious em¬ 
blem looks more like a dishcloth. 

Old, faded, or wornout Flags should not be 
used for banners or other secondary purposes. 

When no longer fit for display, the Flag 
should be destroyed, preferably by burning, or 
other methods, lacking the suggestion of irrev¬ 
erence or disrespect. 

At the unveiling of a statue or monument, 
the Flag should not be allowed to touch the 
ground, but should be left unfurled, and wav¬ 
ing throughout the ceremony, adding a distinc¬ 
tive touch to the occasion. 

Never let it be festooned over doors or arch¬ 
ways. 

Do not tie the Flag in a bow knot. 

Where National Colors are needed for drap- 



Americanism 


48 


Our Flag 


ery, red, white and blue bunting should be 
used. 

When the Flag is flown at half-mast as a 
sign of mourning, it should be hoisted to the 
full staff at the conclusion of a funeral. To 
fly a flag at half-mast it should be raised to 
the full staff first, then lowered. Half-mast of 
staff means half way down the length of the 
flag pole. 

The National Flag should always be dis¬ 
played at the time a gun salute is fired. 

International usage forbids the display of 
the Flag of one nation above the other, with 
which it is at peace. 

In displaying flags of two or more nations 
they should be upon separate staffs, or on 
separate halyards of equal size, on the same 
level. 

When the National Flag is displayed with 
state or other flags, it should be given the 
place of honor, on the right. 

A Federal enactment prevents the use of the 
National Flag being used as a Trade Mark or 
in any way being used to advertise any article 
or business. 



Our Flag 


49 


A mericanism 


WHEN TO FLY OUR FLAG 

Every American loves his Flag, and he is 
privileged to fly it day and night if he so mind, 
and no American home is complete unless the 
Stars and Stripes is displayed in it. 

It is best tho, to fly the National Emblem 
between sunrise and sunset. 


Following is the list of holidays set apart 
by the Nation or State, when it is loyal and 
dutiful to hoist unfurled the "Stars and 
Stripes": 

Lincoln’s Birthday _ Feb. 12 

Washington’s Birthday _ Feb. 22 

Inauguration Day _ _„Mar. 4 

Battle of Lexington _ Apr. 19 

Battle of Manila Bay __ May 1 

Mother’s Day_Second Sunday in May 

Memorial Day (half staff until noon)_—May 30 

Flag Day_June 14 

Battle of Bunker Hill _June 17 

Independence Day _ July 4 

Labor Day _ First Monday in Sept. 

10 
11 


Lake Erie Day_Sept. 

Lake Champlain Day _ Sept. 

Columbus Day_Oct. 12 

17 
19 


Battle of Saratoga_Oct. 

Surrender of Yorktown _ Oct. 

Armistice Day_Nov. 1 



















Americanism 


50 


Our Flag 


FLAG OVER THE WHITE HOUSE 

The "Stars and Stripes” floats over the 
White House, the home of the President, from 
8 A. M. until sunset, while the President is in 
Washington. Its absence from the flagstaff of 
the White House denotes that the President is 
away from the Capitol. 

All Government office buildings and depart¬ 
ment buildings display the Flag from 9 A. M. 
until 4:30 P. M. 

At all military stations and posts the Flag 
is hoisted at sunrise and lowered at sunset. 
Army and Navy regulations direct that the 
"Star Spangled Banner” shall be played by the 
band at morning and evening "Colors,” or if 
there be no band, that "Colors” be sounded by 
the field music—the bugle. 

Navy regulations, issued with the approval 
of the President, also require that the National 
Air be played at "Colors” on ships and at sta¬ 
tions where there is a band. This makes the 
"Star Spangled Banner” the "National Air.” 

FLAGS FLY DAY AND NIGHT 

There are three United States Government 
buildings over which the "Stars and Stripes” 
wave continuously day and night—over the 



Our Flag 


51 


Americanism 


east and west fronts of the National Capitol, 
—over the adjacent House of Representatives, 
and over the Senate Office Building. 

The two Emblems over the Capitol (storm 
flag size) are replaced every six weeks, owing 
to the fact that rain, wind, etc., destroy them. 

The Flags over the House and Senate fly as 
long as these bodies are in session, or at recess, 
but are lowered when they adjourn. 

SALUTING THE FLAG 

It is well and fitting that American citizens 
should salute the “Stars and Stripes,'' a Flag 
that has ever waved in Victory and adorns our 
homes and institutions, a Glorious Emblem of 
the World's greatest Democracy. 

citizens' salute 

When the National Colors are passing on 
parade, or in review, the spectator should, if 
walking halt, and if sitting arise and stand at 
attention, and uncover his head. 

A most commendable practice, as outlined 
below, is observed daily in some of our Ameri¬ 
can schools, and its observance should be made 
Nationwide by Federal legislation. 



Americanism 


52 


Our Flag 


At a given hour during the morning the pu¬ 
pils are given a signal by the teacher to rise 
from their seats, as the Stars and Stripes are 
brought to the front of the class room, and 
each pupil gives the Flag a military salute, 
which is as follows: 

The right hand uplifted, palm upward, to 
a line with the forehead, close to it. While thus 
standing with the palm upward and in the atti¬ 
tude of salute, all the pupils repeat, together, 
slowly and distinctly, the following pledge: 

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag, 
and to the Republic for which it 
stands, One Nation indivisible, 
with Liberty and Justice to all.” 

At the words, as pronounced in this pledge 
"to my Flag/' each one extends the right hand 
gracefully, palm upward, toward the Flag, un¬ 
til the end of the pledge of affirmation. Then 
all hands drop to one side. The pupils, still 
standing, all sing together in unison the song 
"America/' 

This pledge was given to the country by the 
American Flag Association, organized in 1898. 


Our Flag 


53 


Americanism 


NATIONAL GUN SALUTES 

The National Salute is 21 guns. 

The National Colors must always be dis¬ 
played at the time of firing the National Sa¬ 
lute. 

When the United States first became a na¬ 
tion, it was found that the National Salute of 
other nations was a salute of 21 guns, and so 
this same salute was adopted by the United 
States Congress. 

FOURTH OF JULY SALUTE 

The Union Salute, 48 guns at present, is one 
gun for each State in the Union, and this sa¬ 
lute is fired on the Fourth of July, in each year, 
to commemorate the signing of the Declara¬ 
tion of Independence. It is fired at noon at 
every military post that is provided with suit¬ 
able artillery. 


OTHER GUN SALUTES 

Much pomp and ceremony attends the visit 
of the President of the United States to a ship 
of the American Navy. Amidst a rattle of 
drums, the flourish of bugles, the National Air 
by the ship's band, and the firing of the Na¬ 
tional Salute, the President's Flag is run up the 



Americanism 


54 


Our Flag 


main mast just as the President sets foot upon 
board ship. A salute of 21 guns is also fired as 
the President leaves the ship, and the Presi¬ 
dent's Flag is lowered at the last shot. 

When a ship of the American Navy passes 
Washington's tomb at Mount Vernon the 
ship's colors are placed at half mast. 

AT MILITARY POSTS 

When the President visits a military post, a 
salute of 21 guns is fired both at his arrival 
and his departure, and the President's Flag is 
raised and lowered in like manner. 

A like salute will be given if the President 
pass in the vicinity of a military post in a pub¬ 
lic capacity. 

The National Salute is also given an ex- 
President if he visits a military post. 

The Vice President is given a salute of 19 
guns when he visits a military post. 

When the President of a foreign Republic 
passes in the vicinity of a Military post 21 
guns are fired. Members of a Royal family are 
given a salute due their sovereign. 

Salutes are fired only between sunrise and 
sunset, and as a rule not on Sunday, unless re¬ 
quired by international courtesy. 



Our Flag 


55 


Americanism 


FIRST FOREIGN SALUTE 

The first foreign salute to the “Stars and 
Stripes” was fired February 14, 1778, at Quib- 
eron Bay, France, given to our first great 
sailor, John Paul Jones, commanding the U. S. 
S. Ranger. 


A mericanism 


56 


Our Flag 


WHERE “OUR FLAG” HAS GONE WITH 
HONOR 

UR Flag” has ever waved in Victory 
and honor, and it would be necessary 
to write the history of Our Country to 
fully show where “Our Flag,” the 
“Stars and Stripes,” has gone with 

honor. 

This “Old Glory” of ours has been unfurled 
in victory in many years; has gone with honor 
around the world; raised over the Panama 
Canal during its construction and after com¬ 
pletion by the United States; to Japan and 
China and caused the “Open Door;” raised 
over Alaska; over the Andes, and its last great 
journey made with honor was when Our Sol¬ 
dier Boys carried it “Overseas” and stemmed 
the tide of the Great War in the cause of 
Democracy and Liberty, and broke forever the 
“Might is Right” policy of Kaiserism. 

“stars and stripes” in st. Paul's 

Just 140 years after the signing of the 
Declaration of Independence the same nation 
that had insisted on “taxation without repre¬ 
sentation” opened the doors of one of its mag¬ 
nificent cathedrals, St. Paul's, in London, and 







Our Flag 


57 


Americanism 


bade the United States deposit her Colors in 
this sacred edifice, which signified the entrance 
of the United States into the World War as 
an ally of Great Britain. 


WARS OF THE UNITED STATES 


War of the Revolution 
Northwestern Indian 
War with France 
War with Tripoli 
Creek Indian 
War 1812 Gt. Britain 
Seminole Indian 
Black Hawk Indian 
Cherokee disturbance 
Creek Indian 
Florida Indian 
Aroostook disturbance 
War with Mexico 
Apache, Navajo & Utah 
Seminole Indian 
Civil War 
Spanish War 
World War 


Apr. 19, 1775 to Apr. 11, 1783 
Sept. 19, 1790 to Aug. 3, 1795 
July 9, 1798 to Sept. 30, 1800 
June 10, 1801 to June 4, 1805 
July 27, 1813 to Aug. 9, 1814 
June 18, 1812 to Feb. 17, 1815 
Nov. 20, 1817 to Oct. 21, 1818 
Apr. 21, 1831 to Sept. 31, 1832 
1836 to 1837 

May 5, 1836 to Sept. 30, 1837 
Dec. 23, 1835 to Aug. 14, 1843 
1838 to 1839 

Apr. 24, 1846 to July 4, 1848 
1849 to 1855 
1856 to 1858 
1861 to 1865 

Apr., 1898 to Dec. 10, 1898 
Apr. 6, 1917 to June 28, 1919 



Americanism 


58 


Our Flag 




CONFEDERATE FLAGS 



STARS AND BARS 



SECOND NATIONAL FLAG 



THIRD NATIONAL FLAG 











Our Flag 


59 


Americanism 


OTHER AMERICAN FLAGS 

B IT THE outbreak of the Civil War, the 
Southern States, or Confederate States 
as they were rightly termed, realized 
that it was essential that they have a 
Flag of their own, and during the separ¬ 
ation from the Union there were three Na¬ 
tional Flags adopted by the Confederate 
States. 

FIRST STARS AND BARS 

The first Flag adopted was the Stars and 
Bars, and became the National Flag of the 
Confederate States, March 4, 1861. 

This Flag was composed as follows: Three 
broad stripes; the top one red, the center 
white, and the bottom one red, with a blue 
canton, holding seven white stars; the number 
of States that had seceded at that time. 

SOUTHERN CROSS 

A Battle Flag was also designed, and used 
thruout the war. This Battle Flag was also 
called the Southern Cross. It was composed of 
a field of red, and a broad blue saltire (cross) 
bordered with a strip of white, emblazened 
with mulets or five-pointed stars, correspond¬ 
ing to the number of the Confederate States. 





Americanism 


60 


Our Flag 


SECOND NATIONAL FLAG 

The second National Flag was adopted May 
1, 1863. The necessity of a new Flag was urged 
as a claim was put forward by many that there 
was too much similarity to the Flag of the 
Northern States. This second Flag had a blue 
field with the Battle Flag or Southern Cross as 
the canton. 


THIRD NATIONAL FLAG 

Some strong objections were soon raised 
against the Second Flag, the most important 
being that it looked like a flag of truce when 
resting against the staff; as the canton was in¬ 
variably hidden. The white was easily soiled 
so both the Army and the Navy registered ob¬ 
jections on this point. Another objection was 
that this Flag resembled too closely the British 
White Ensign. So the last Flag of the Con¬ 
federate States was adopted March 4, 1865. 

This Flag was as the second with the excep¬ 
tion that it contained a red stripe on the outer 
part of the white field, starting half way dis¬ 
tant from the union, and extending down the 
entire width of the Flag. 



Our Flag 


61 


Americanism 


U. S. GOVERNMENT FLAGS 

There are numerous Flags for use in Govern¬ 
ment Departments authorized by the Federal 
Government. The Army and Navy have many 
different kinds of Flags. 

In the Army each regiment has its own par¬ 
ticular colors, or standards. Colors are used 
by unmounted troops and standards are used 
by those who are mounted. The difference be¬ 
tween standards and colors is that standards 
are smaller, and have no streamers, cords or 
tassels to hinder the movement of mounted 
men. 

In the Navy there are a great number of 
flags used. There is the Admiral’s Flag, Vice 
Admiral’s Flag, Commodore’s Flag, and a host 
of others. The Flagship of a fleet or squadron 
carries every Flag that is to be used under 
naval regulations. 

president’s flag 

No less than three Flags have been estab¬ 
lished for the President of the United States 
The first was established by Naval regula¬ 
tions April 18, 1865, and is of blue silk; in the 
center is an eagle with outstretched wings, 
bearing on its breast a United States shield. 



Americanism 


62 


Our Flag 


This eagle holds in its right talon an olive 
branch with red berries, and in its left talon a 
bundle of thirteen arrows, and in its beak a 
scroll, inscribed with the motto, “E Pluribus 
Unum.” Over the head of the eagle is a crest, 
which appears, above the escutcheon a circle 
in which is a glory, or, breaking thru a cloud 
and surrounding thirteen stars, forming a con¬ 
stellation, on a blue field. 



THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA 


The second President's Flag was by order of 
the Army Department, March 28, 1898, and is 
of scarlet bunting. There are four white stars, 
one in each corner, and in the center a large 
star making a blue field upon which is the 
Coat of Arms of the United States, now called 
the Great Seal of the United States. On the 
scarlet field are also scattered small white stars 
equal in number to the number of states in the 
Union. 


Our Flag 


63 


Americanism 


In 1902 some strong criticism was made to 
President Roosevelt regarding the double dis¬ 
play of a President’s Flag, and an effort was 
made to cause both the Army and Navy to 
carry the same Flag; and it was suggested that 
the one displayed by the Navy be used, it being 
the oldest Flag. 

Neither the Army nor the Navy Flags were 
done away with, but instead a third flag was 
designed. 

This Flag is a blue field, with four white 
stars, one in each corner. The President’s Seal 
is placed in the center of the Flag. The Presi¬ 
dent’s Seal differs from that of the Great Seal 
of the U. S., or Coat of Arms, in that there is 
a different arrangement of the thirteen stars. 
They are scattered around the head of the 
eagle. The crest is also missing. 

CABINET MINISTERS’ FLAGS 

The Secretaries of the Navy and War and 
their assistants have their own Flags, and the 
Secretary of the Treasury has his own Flag as 
well. 

The Flag of the Secretary of the Navy was 
first adopted in 1866, but was abolished in 
1870, and again brought into use July 4, 1876, 



Americanism 


64 


Our Flag 


and has been the same up to the present day. 
It is as follows: A blue field with an anchbr in 
white in the center, and four white stars, one 
in each corner. It is rectangular in shape. 

The Flag of the Assistant Secretary of the 
Navy is of the same design as that of the Sec¬ 
retary of the Navy, but the colors are reversed 
—white ground, blue anchor and stars. 

The Flag of the Secretary of War was estab¬ 
lished March 3, 1897. It is of scarlet bunting, 
with the Great Seal of the United States in 
the center, and a white star in each corner. The 
flag is rectangular in shape. 

This Flag is used, as is the President’s colors, 
when the Secretary of War is the ranking of¬ 
ficer at Military camps, etc. 

The Flag of the assistant is a white field with 
red stars, and the Great Seal. 

A very elaborate design is the Flag of the 
Secretary of the Treasury, when he goes afloat 
on United States ships. It is rectangular in 
shape, having a white field holding eight blue 
stars surrounding two shields of the same color, 
separated by five smaller blue stars. Upon 
the upper shield is a pair of scales, and a key 
is shown in the other, and both the scales and 
the key are white. 



Our Flag 


65 


Americanism 


FAMOUS FLAGS IN AMERICA 

HERE are a number of most interesting 
and really historic stories of American 
Flags playing a most important part in 
the history and development of Our 
Country, and the following are some 
that have been chosen by the author, believing 
that they will carry the message best intended: 

FIRST "STARS AND STRIPES" IN BATTLE 

The first, or rather earliest use of the "Stars 
and Stripes" in battle was when it was flown at 
Fort Stanwix on August 3, 1777, afterwards re¬ 
named Fort Schuyler, which was on the site 
now known as Rome, New York. 

At the time of the attack by the British 
there was no Flag on the Fort, but shirts were 
cut up to form the white stripes, and also the 
stars. Bits of scarlet cloth were used for the 
red stripes, and the blue ground for the stars 
was made from pieces of a cloth cloak belong¬ 
ing to Capt. Swarthout. This same Flag was 
waving in triumph from August 3, 1777, until 
August 22 of the same year, during which per¬ 
iod of time the fort was constantly under seige. 

This, then, was a fort that never surrend¬ 
ered. 







Americanism 


66 


Our Flag 


Some years ago the Daughters of the Revo¬ 
lution procured from the War Department four 
cannon to mark the spot at Fort Stanwix, and 
raised in bronze, on the base of each cannon, 
is the following inscription: 

A FORT THAT NEVER SURRENDERED 
Defended August, 1777, by Colonel Peter 
Gansevoort and Lieutenant Col. 
Marinus Willett. 

Here the "Stars and Stripes" was first un¬ 
furled in battle. 



Our Flag 


67 


Americanism 


one of America's first heroes 

Every American boy will read with delight 
the story of how Sergt. Jasper saved His Coun¬ 
try's Flag when it was struck down under at¬ 
tack by the British during the Revolution. 

During the construction of rude defensive 
works of palmetto logs on Sullivan's Island, 
Charleston Harbor, first known as Fort Sulli¬ 
van, and afterwards named Fort Moultrie 
(after the gallant defender), the British fleet 
on June 28, 1776, under Sir Peter Parker, sub¬ 
jected this fort to a very severe bombardment. 
While this attack was in progress the Flag 
over the western bastion fell outside the fort, 
and Sergt. William Jasper, seeing the Flag fall, 
shouted to Col. Moultrie, “Don't let us fight 
without a Flag," and leaped over the parapet, 
walked the entire length of the fort, picked up 
the Flag, and in sight of the entire British fleet 
and amidst a hail of bullets, fastened once 
more the beloved emblem firmly upon a staff, 
and the Flag again waved proudly over the 
fort. It was this gallant and heroic act of 
Sergt. Jasper's that gave encouragement to the 
small force of Col. Moultrie, and led them to 
victory. 




Americanism 


68 


Our Flag 


The Flag referred to above, known as the 
Crescent Flag, was one that Col. Moultrie 
made, and was a large blue Flag with a white 
crescent upon it, and the word “Liberty” writ¬ 
ten across it also. 

Governor Rutledge visited the fort the day 
after this incident and rewarded Sergt. Jasper 
for his gallant deed by presenting him with his 
own sword, which he was wearing at the time. 
The Governor also offered him a lieutenant's 
commission; but Jasper, who could neither 
read nor write, declined the honor, saying “I 
am not fit to keep officer's company. I am but 
a sergeant.” 

The same day the British fleet departed 
from Charleston, and this act brought great 
joy among the people of that part of the coun¬ 
try. The day after the departure of the enemy 
fleet, the wife of Major Berard Ellit present¬ 
ed Col. Moultrie's brave regiment with two 
elegant silk Flags; one of them was blue and 
the other red, both handsomely embroidered. 

SERGT. JASPER DIES A HERO 

“Tell Mrs. Elliot I lost my life supporting 
the Colors she gave to our regiment.” These 
were the last words spoken by Sergt. Jasper. 
The Colors given by Mrs. Elliot had been car- 





Our Flag 69 Americanism 

—hh — » ■ -wii^— mi—WW " ■mi—»mi—— nil ■■ hh—hm—hm — ■■««'■■■■■ 11 u— hu— im—— Mil—mi— mii—- mi—mi—im— 



SERGT. JASPER 

One of America’s heroic soldiers of the Revolution. He so loved his 
Flag that he laid down his life to save it. 





Americanism 


70 


Our Flag 


ried by Jasper’s regiment into action at Sa- 
vanah, Georgia, October 9, 1779. The bearers 
of these Standards had been shot down by the 
British, and Sergt. Jasper sprang forward and 
had just fixed them firmly upon the parapet 
when he was struck by a bullet, and expired 
shortly after uttering the words above. 

These Colors were finally taken by the Brit¬ 
ish, at Charleston, May 12, 1780, taken to 
England and placed in the Tower of London. 

It is also said that the Flag Jasper recov¬ 
ered at Fort Moultrie was also captured and 
deposited with many other American trophies 
in the famous tower. 

perry’s LAKE ERIE VICTORY FLAG 

"We have met the enemy and they are ours— 
two ships—two brigs—one schooner and one 
sloop.” These were the famous words of Perry 
when he had completed the victory on Lake 
Erie, which was one of the most notable naval 
successes of the War of 1812. This great vic¬ 
tory occurred on September 10, 1813. The Flag 
flown during those naval engagements, and 
which inspired the American sailors to such 
great success was a blue flag with the words 
of the brave Captain Lawrence, written upon 
it, "Don’t give up the Ship.” 




Our Flag 


71 


Americanism 



FIRST NAVAL ENSIGN 

Hoisted by Capt. John Paul Jones, December 3, 1775. 

don't tread on me 

"Don't tread on me." These words were in¬ 
scribed on the Flag flown by Admiral Hop¬ 
kins, the first naval commander of the Ameri¬ 
can Navy. This Flag was called the Command¬ 
er's own Flag or ship Standard, and was used 
in addition to the Continental Grand Union 
Flag. It was a Flag composed of thirteen 
stripes, red and white alternately, and with a 
large rattlesnake across the face of it. The 
head of the snake pointing to the upper left 
hand corner of the Flag and the tail at the low¬ 
er right hand corner. There is no question but 
that this Flag was hoisted by John Paul Jones, 
December 3, 1775, on Admiral Hopkins' Flag 
ship. 












Americanism 


72 


Our Flag 


The rattlesnake was very freely used in the 
early days, and was adopted as an emblem on 
many of the local Flags of the Thirteen 
Colonies. 

WHAT FRANKLIN SAYS 

Benjamin Franklin, in speaking of the rattle¬ 
snake and in defense of its use, spoke as fol¬ 
lows: that the rattlesnake was only found in 
America; that all serpent emblems were con¬ 
sidered symbols of wisdom by the ancients; 
that the bright lidless eyes, signified vigilance; 
that it never attacks without giving fair warn¬ 
ing; that his rattles, while distinct, are so firm¬ 
ly joined that they cannot be separated with¬ 
out complete ruin; and that as he grows older 
the rattles increase in number, as it is to be 
hoped also would the Colonies. 

Some writers aver that the Continental 
Grand Union Flag was flown by Admiral Hop¬ 
kins, December, 1775. Official records show 
that this Flag was .flown February, 1776, by 
the Navy. See page 28. 


Our Flag 


73 


Americanism 


PATRIOTIC SONGS AND POEMS 

UR patriotic songs and poems are not 
few and are full of historic lore and 
sentiment. Altho the most popular of 
all the patriotic songs is “America,” the 
“Star Spangled Banner” is Our Nation¬ 
al Anthem. 

There is a flag in every land, 

There is a flag of every hue. 

But there is no flag in any land 
Like our own Red, White and Blue. 

BARBARA FRIETCHIE 

Up the street came the rebel tread, 

Stonewall Jackson riding ahead. 

Under his slouched hat left and right 
He glanced; the old flag met his sight. 

“Halt”—the dust-brown ranks stood fast; 
“Fire”—out blazed the rifle blast. 

It shivered the windows, pane and sash; 

It rent the banner with seam and gash. 

Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff, 

Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf. 

She leaned far out on the window sill, 

And shook it forth with a royal will. 

“Shoot, if you must this old gray head, 

But spare your country’s flag,” she said. 

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, 

Over the face of the leader came; 






Americanism 


74 


Our Flag 


The nobler nature within him stirred 
To life at that woman’s deed and word; 

“Who touches a hair of yon grey head 
Dies like a dog. March on,” he said. 

The above are a few lines from John G. 
Whittier's famous poem, Barbara Frietchie. 
This poem was written upon a suggestion by 
Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth. 


THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER 

The author of this soul-inspiring lyric, Francis Scott 
Key, was born August 9, 1780, at Terra Rubra, Carroll 
County, Maryland, and died in Baltimore, January 11, 
1843. Mr. Key was a lawyer by profession, and the 
song which has immortalized his name and become 
national was inspired and written by him while a 
visitor on board the “Minden.” He was witnessing 
the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Md., by the Brit¬ 
ish, between midnight and dawn of September 13, 1814, 
and the scene made his heart sick with anxiety. The 
warm patriotism breathed in the song is not the off¬ 
spring of fancy or mere sentiment or of poetic imagina¬ 
tion. He describes what he actually saw in the dim 
light of the morning, and tells how he felt when he 
could not see the Flag through the smoke of battle, and 
what his feelings were when the battle was over and the 
victory won by his countrymen. Every word came 
warm from his throbbing heart and filled his soul with 
thankfulness to the Divine hand that turned the tide 
of battle for Liberty. 



Our Flag 


75 


Americanism 


The song was first published September 21, 1814, 
in the Baltimore American, and immediately caught 
the popular fancy. The music, to which it was at once 
adapted, is an old French air, long known in England 
as “Anacreon,” and afterwards in America as “Adams 
and Liberty.” 

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, 

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, 
Whose stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight. 

O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? 
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 

Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. 

Chorus— 

Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave 
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

On the shore dimly seen, thro’ the mists of the deep, 

Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes. 
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, 

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? 

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, 

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: 

Chorus— 

’Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave 
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, 

That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, 

A home and a country should leave us no more? 

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution. 
No refuge could save the hireling and slave 
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave; 

Chorus— 

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave 
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 





Americanism 


76 


Our Flag 


Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand 
Between their loved home and wild war’s desolation; 

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land 
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation! 
Then conquer we must. When our cause it is just. 

And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!” 

Chorus— 

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave 
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. 


AMERICA 

“America’/ was written by Rev. S. F. Smith, while 
a student at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1832. 
In some collections of patriotic music, Henry Carey is 
credited as the composer, while in other collections the 
credit is given to T. Dwight. The simplicity and easy 
movement of the hymn, however, appealed to Mr. Smith 
and, under the inspiration of the moment, he seized a 
scrap of waste paper and put upon it in less than half 
an hour the verses substantially as they stand today. 
The young student had no idea at the time how much 
he had done for his country. 

The hymn was first sung at a children’s Fourth of 
July celebration in Park Street Church, Boston, in 1832. 
It has since been sung in every country of the world, 
the latest translation being into Hebrew. To quote the 
words of Mr. Smith, “I rejoice if the expression of my 
own sentiments and convictions still finds an answer¬ 
ing chord in the hearts of my countrymen.” 


77 


Americanism 


Our Flag 


My country! ’tis of thee. 

Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee I sing; 

Land where my fathers died! 

Land of the Pilgrim’s pride! 

From ev’ry mountain side 
Let freedom ring. 

My native country, thee— 

Land of the noble free— 

Thy name I love; 

I love thy rocks and rills, 

Thy woods and templed hills! 

My heart with rapture thrills 
Like that above. 

Let music swell the breeze, 

And ring from all the trees, 
Sweet freedom’s song; 

Let mortal tongues awake; 

Let all that breathe partake; 

Let rocks their silence break. 
The sound prolong. 

Our father’s God! to Thee, 

Author of liberty, 

To Thee we sing; 

Long may our land be bright 

With freedom’s holy light; 

Protect us by Thy might, 
Great God our King. 


BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC 

This song was inspired by a visit of Mrs. Julia Ward 
Howe to the soldiers’ camp around Washington, gath¬ 
ered for the defence of the Capitol in the Civil War. 





Americanism 


78 


Our Flag 


Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; 
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath 
are stored; 

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword, 
His truth is marching on. 

Chorus— 

Glory! glory! Hallelujah! Glory! glory! Hallelujah! 

Glory! glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. 

Tn! ave L Seen wa tch-fires of a hundred circling camps; 

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; 
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps. 
His day is marching on. 

\ have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel: 

As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall 
deal.” 

Let the hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel. 
Since God is marching on. 

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; 
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat'* 
O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! 

Our God is marching on. 

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea. 

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me* 

As % L c !} ed ,T ake men holy, let us die to make men free, 
While God is marching on. 


COLUMBIA THE GEM OF THE OCEAN 

Sometimes this song is called “The Red, White and 
Blue.” It was written by David T. Shaw, under the 
title of, “Columbia, the Land of the Brave,” and was 
first published in 1843, and was sung for the first time 
at the Chestnut Theatre, Philadelphia, just after it was 
published. 




Our Flag 79 Americanism 

— Iin^— mi— Hit—nil—mi—mi—mi HU—mi—INI—mi— an— mi—mi nil—nn——mi—nir— 


Oh, Columbia, the gem of the ocean. 

The home of the brave and the free, 

The shrine of each patriot’s devotion, 

A world offers homage to thee. 

Thy mandates make heroes assemble, 

When Liberty’s form stands in view; 

Thy banners make tyranny tremble, 

When borne by the red, white and blue, 

When borne by the red, white and blue, 

When borne by the red, white and blue, 

Thy banners make tyranny tremble, 

When borne by the red, white and blue, 

When war wing’d its wide desolation, 

And threatened the land to deform, 

The ark then of freedom’s foundation, 
Columbia, rode safe thro’ the storm: 

With the garlands of vict’ry around her, 
When so proudly she bore her brave crew, 
With her flag proudly floating before her, 

The boast of the red, white and blue, 

The boast of the red, white and blue, 

The boast of the red, white and blue, 

With her flag proudly floating before her, 
The boast of the red, white and blue. 

The star-spangled banner bring hither, 

O’er Columbia’s true sons let it wave; 

May the wreaths they have won never wither, 
Nor its stars cease to shine on the brave. 
May the service united, ne’er sever, 

But hold to their colors so true; 

The army and navy forever, 

Three cheers for the red, white and blue, 
Three cheers for the red, white and blue, 
Three cheers for the red, white and blue, 
The army and navy forever. 

Three cheers for the red, white and blue, 



Americanism 


80 


Our Flag 


THE STORY OF "HAIL, COLUMBIA” 

The song “Hail, Columbia/’ which has been sinking 
into neglect of late because another one, “The Star- 
Spangled banner,” has been declared “official,” was 
written in 1798 by Joseph Hopkinson, a Philadelphia 
lawyer, who thus describes how he came to write it: 

“The contest between England and France was rag¬ 
ing, and the people of the United States were divided 
into parties for the one side or the other, some thinking 
that policy and duty required us to espouse the cause 
of ‘Republican France/ as she was called, while others 
were for connecting ourselves with England, under the 
belief that she was the great preservative power of good 
principles and safe government. 

“The violation of our rights by both belligerents 
was forcing us from the just and wise policy of Presi¬ 
dent Washington, which was to do equal justice to both, 
but to part with neither, and to preserve an honest and 
strict neutrality between them. 

“During this time, a young man whom I had known, 
and who had some talent as a singer, was about to have 
a benefit in the theater which was then open in our 
city. He came to me in despair and said that if he could 
get a patriotic song adapted to The President’s March’ 
he did not doubt of a full house; I told him I would 
try what 1 could do for him. He came the next after¬ 
noon, and the song, such as it is, was ready for him. 

“The object of the song was to get up an American 
spirit, which should be independent of, and above the 
interests, passion, and policy of both of the foreign 
powers. And no allusion is made either to France or 
England, or to the quarrel between them. 





Our Flag 


81 


Americanism 


“It was duly advertised that after the tragedy, The 
Italian Monk/ an entirely new song, written by a citi¬ 
zen of Philadelphia, would be performed, to the tune 
of The President’s March,’ accompanied by a full 
band, and a grand chorus. 

“The house was packed. The song found favor, of 
course, with both parties, as both were American; and 
it was encored and re-encored, in wild enthusiasm. Be¬ 
fore its seventh repetition the audience, already familiar 
with the tune, had also learned the words of the refrain, 
and finally all rose and joined in the chorus, ‘Firm 
united let us be.’ ” 

The music of “Hail, Columbia,” was written long 
before the words and there is considerable debate as to 
the composer. We know definitely, however, that the 
melody was composed in 1789 and was then called “The 
President’s March.” 

A son of one of the claimants to the authorship as¬ 
serts that it was played for the first time as Washing¬ 
ton rode over Trenton bridge, on his way to the inaugu¬ 
ration in New York, where he took the oath of office 
on the steps of the Sub-treasury in Wall Street. 


Americanism 


82 


Our Flag 


Hail, Columbia! Happy land! 

Hail, ye heroes, heav’n-born band! 

Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause. 
Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause; 
And when the storm of war was gone. 
Enjoyed the peace your valor won; 

Let independence be our boast. 

Ever mindful what it cost. 

Ever grateful for the prize. 

Let its altar reach the skies. 


Firm, united let us be. 
Rallying round our liberty! 

As a band of brothers joined. 
Peace and safety we shall find. 


Sound, sound the trump of fame. 

Let Washington’s great name 
Ring thro’ the world with loud applause. 
Ring thro’ the world with loud applause! 
Let eve’ry clime to freedom dear. 

Listen with a joyful ear; 

With equal skill, with steady pow’r. 

He governs in the fearful hour 
Of horrid war, or guides with ease 
The happier time of honest peace. 


THE ORIGIN OF “YANKEE DOODLE” 

This time-honored song seems to be a musical vaga¬ 
bond and is wrapt in obscurity. While “Yankee Doodle” 
is national property, it is not a literary treasure. No 
true-born American, however, is ashamed of the song. 

Next to “Dixie,” it is still the most popular of our 
national songs. How it originated no one can be abso¬ 
lutely sure. There are sixteen or more different theories 
which have sprung up since the song was first generally 
sung, in 1775. The word “Yankee” was used by the 



Our Flag 


83 


Americanism 


New England colonials as an expression meaning 
“simon pure,” or excellent, and by the British as one 
of contempt. 

The earliest printed version to be found of the air 
“Yankee Doodle” appears in Walsh's collection of 
dances of the year 1759, under the title of “Kitty 
Fishers Jig.” The air was played by the Yankees 
after the battle of Bunker Hill, and we learn in the New 
York Journal of 1768 that it was already sung at that 
time. 

Since the War for Independence, many verses have 
been written and added to the song. The credit for the 
best and most original work in this direction, however, 
belongs to George P. Morris, who wrote the following 
lines under the title “Origin of Yankee Doodle.” 


Father and I went down to camp, 
A-long with Cap’n Goodwin. 

And there we see the men and boys 
As thick as hasty pudding. 

Chorus— 

Yankee Doodle, keep it up, 
Yankee Doodle dandy. 

Mind the music and the step. 
And with the girls be handy. 

And there we see a thousand men 
As rich as Squire David; 

And what they wasted ev’ry day, 

I wish it could be save-d. 

And there w T as Gen’ral Washington 
Upon a snow-white charger; 

He looked as big as all out doors. 
Some thought he was much larger. 






Monroe Doctrine 


85 


Americanism 


Section Two 

Monroe Doctrine 



Americanism 86 Monroe Doctrine 



JAMES MONROE 

Fifth President of the United States of America. The Monroe Doctrine 
was adopted during his administration. Monroe was President when 
Congress passed the law changing Our Flag from Fifteen Stripes and 
Twenty Stars to the Original design of Thirteen Stripes, but adding a 
Star for each State admitted into the Union. 














Monroe Doctrine 


87 


Americanism 


MONROE DOCTRINE 

OTWITHSTANDING the fact that the 
policy, as outlined in the Monroe Doc¬ 
trine, is a National issue of grave im¬ 
portance, and has been since 1793, there 
is no phase of public policy upon which 
our people are less informed, and upon which 
the imagination of our citizens is brought into 
greater play, than this subject, when it is under 
discussion. 

WHAT IS THE MONROE DOCTRINE? 

The Monroe Doctrine relates to the inter¬ 
ference of Foreign Countries with the affairs 
of the American Continent. 

It never became a Federal enactment, but 
was set forth in two distinct paragraphs (sep¬ 
arated by other matter) and drafted by John 
Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, in an 
annual message to Congress by President 
Monroe, December 2, 1823. 

It is well understood by All Foreign Powers, 
and its potential force is held in high esteem by 
All Nations. 











Americanism 


Monroe Doctrine 


ORIGINATORS OF THIS FOREIGN POLICY 

Strictly speaking, the principles set forth in 
this famous document and policy originated 
neither with Adams nor Monroe, for it was 
none other than George Washington, “The 
Father of Our Country/' who first laid down a 
policy relating to intervention in foreign af¬ 
fairs. In his Neutrality Proclamation, issued 
in 1793, he warned all American citizens 
against committing hostile acts in favor of 
France or Great Britain, when war had been 
declared by France upon Great Britain, Febru¬ 
ary 1, 1793. 

Prof. Channing, of Harvard University, 
author of Students History of The United 
States of America, says: 

“This Proclamation is of the very greatest 
importance in the history of our country, as it 
was then first definitely laid down as a policy 
that the United States was to hold apart from 
the wars and politics of European nations/'— 

Then came Thomas Jefferson, who in his 
inaugural address in 1801, said: 

“Equal and exact justice to all men, of what¬ 
ever state or persuasion, religious or political; 
peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all 
nations—entangling alliances with none." 



Monroe Doctrine 


89 


Americanism 


HISTORICAL STUMBLING BLOCKS 

It is well to remember that when in 1782-83 
the Treaty of Peace between England and the 
Thirteen Colonies recognized the United States 
as an "Independent Nation/' there were five 
other blocks of territory in the Western Hemi¬ 
sphere held by strong nations; namely,— 

First: The British possessions and claims north 
and northwest of the United States, and in 
the West Indies. 

Second: The French West Indies. 

Third: Russia, in the far northwest. 

Fourth: Portugal, in eastern South America. 

Fifth: Spain, which occupied the entire coast 
line from St. Mary’s River, in Florida, along 
the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and 
the Atlantic (with the exception of Brazil) to¬ 
gether with the whole coast line of the Pacific 
from Cape Horn to the Archipelago of the 
northwest coast. 

REVOLUTION CONTAGIOUS 

The success of the Thirteen Colonies seemed 
to become contagious, and the stimulating 
ideas of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were 
in the very air, and began to work and react 
upon the Colonists of other nations—particu¬ 
larly of Spanish America. Suffering under the 
yoke of oppression and furthered by their rest- 


Americanism 


90 


Monroe Doctrine 


less explosive spirit, the Latin American Colon¬ 
ists were in constant insurrection and revolt, 
and by 1822 revolutionary governments had 
been established in every Spanish Colony on 
the American continents, and Spain was bereft 
of all her New World possessions. 

APPEAL TO HOLY ALLIANCE 

In despair Spain appealed to the Holy Alli¬ 
ance, a European coalition of four strong pow¬ 
ers: Russia, France, Spain and Prussia, to aid 
her in re-taking her lost Colonies. 

Spain had brought all this trouble upon her¬ 
self, for the hereditary rulers of Spain were al¬ 
ways a stiff-necked race, utterly devoid of the 
art of colonization, and unlearned in the school 
of experience, and they looked upon their 
American Colonies and possessions, discovered 
by Columbus and conquered thru blood and 
fire by Cortez and Pizzaro, in the name of Isa¬ 
bella and Ferdinand, as regions to be exploited 
and sucked dry in the selfish interests of an 
effete and lavish Court, and Spanish Govern¬ 
ment, and in no wise in the constructive inter¬ 
ests of its Colonists. 



Monroe Doctrine 


91 


Americanism 


ENGLAND PROFFERS AID 

Great Britain refused to lend any encourage¬ 
ment to the Holy Alliance in this projected ex¬ 
pedition, but on the other hand actually made 
a proposal, thru Canning, the British Foreign 
Minister, to the United States' Envoy, Mr. 
Richard Rush, that the two countries issue a 
"joint note" to the Holy Alliance, telling them 
not only to keep their "hands off" the newly 
created Latin America, but to forbid them to 
occupy any part of the Western Hemisphere. 

HOW ABOUT CANADA, ETC.? 

It is true that this dual proposition, on the 
part of England, was not altogether disinter¬ 
ested, for she had Canada, New Foundland, 
and the British Guiana on her hands; hence her 
willingness to cry aloud "Hands off" the West¬ 
ern Hemisphere, to the Holy Alliance. 

PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN 

Both Washington, in his Neutrality Procla¬ 
mation, and Jefferson, in his inaugural address, 
had urged upon the people the slogan, "No 
entangling alliances with Foreign nations," 
and President Monroe, in his wisdom, strongly 
urged by John Quincy Adams, vigorously ex- 



Americanism 


92 


Monroe Doctrine 


pressed his belief in this nation saving policy, 
and the proposal by Britain was rejected by 
Congress. 

NO ACTION BY THE HOLY ALLIANCE 

Altho the concurrent action as suggested by 
Canning was not looked upon with favor by the 
United States, the British Government acted 
in harmony with our authorities in Washing¬ 
ton. The French Government was notified, 
thru Canning, that if the Holy Alliance took 
the step Spain desired, Britain would at once 
recognize the independence of the Spanish Col¬ 
onies. 

This action upon the part of Great Britain 
had the desired effect, for the Holy Alliance, as 
history will show, never carried out the pro¬ 
posed expedition to the New World. 

TROUBLE WITH RUSSIAN FISHERMEN 

Another cause for anxiety at this period was 
the fact that Russia had gained a foothold on 
the northwest Pacific coast, and seemed deter¬ 
mined to reserve the fishing and fur trade of 
this region to herself, and even extend her 
movements to other Pacific coast territory. 

The Czar, who was the leading spirit of the 
Holy Alliance, had issued a decree (ukase) 



Monroe Doctrine 


93 


Americanism 


forbidding foreigners to approach within 100 
miles of the American coast north of the fifty- 
first parallel. Russian fur traders and fisher¬ 
men were constantly moving south, and it was 
feared that they would extend their influence 
and power and eventually gain Oregon and 
California. 

NOW COMES THE MONROE DOCTRINE 

These were dangerous days for the United 
States, and it took high courage to reject the 
strong aid of Great Britain at this time; but 
thru the wise insistence of John Quincy Adams 
—who maintained that this “entangling alli¬ 
ance” might further wars with European pow¬ 
ers; that France might again become a force in 
America; that Russia might gain Oregon and 
California, and that Great Britain might gain 
even greater strength—America’s foreign pol¬ 
icy was reinvigorated, strengthened and well 
defined, by the inauguration of the Monroe 
Doctrine. 


TREATY WITH RUSSIA 

About a year after the Monroe Doctrine had 
been in existence a treaty was made with Rus¬ 
sia, called the Treaty of 1824, but it was not 
ratified until January, 1825. 



Americanism 


94 


Monroe Doctrine 


It declared the fisheries and navigation of 
the Pacific open to both Russia and the United 
States, and fixed the parallel of fifty-four de¬ 
grees and forty minutes as the line of division 
between the "spheres of influence” of the two 
contracting parties; the United States to make 
no settlements north of that line, and Russia 
to make none south of it. 

VENEZUELA DISPUTE 

Now came the real test of the tenability of 
the Monroe Doctrine. 

England, who fain would be the prime mover 
in the "Hands Off” policy in 1823, was now to 
become the archoffender, less than two de¬ 
cades after. She saw glittering gold in South 
America, and the elasticity of the boundary 
line of her South American possession separat¬ 
ing British Guiana and Venezuela was tested 
until it circled the Yuruar Valley, which held 
gold mines that Britain realized would produce 
millions annually. 

THE DISPUTED LINE 

In 1810 a considerable portion of the terri¬ 
tory between the Orinoco and the Amazon 
Rivers became a part of Venezuela, thru Spain. 
Four years later Holland granted another part 



Monroe Doctrine 


95 


Americanism 


of this territory to Great Britain, but the 
boundary line between British Guiana and 
Venezuela was never established by treaty. 

It was this boundary line that caused the 
famous Venezuela controversy. 

Venezuela claimed that the boundary line 
existing between the territory held by Spain 
and Holland, which she said was the Essequibo 
River, and south to Brazil, should be the 
boundary line between her and British Guiana. 
Venezuela was ever consistent in this conten¬ 
tion, but Great Britain made numerous claims, 
until at last the line drawn by the British in¬ 
cluded the Yuruar Valley, in which were found 
rich gold mines. The ownership of these would 
greatly aid Great Britain in controlling the 
commerce of the Orinoco, and correspondingly 
affect the commerce and political relations of 
Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. 

BRITAIN TAKES A LARGE SLICE 

In 1840 Great Britain sent a commissioner, 
who, without the consent of Venezuela, ran a 
boundary line further west, taking territory 
from Venezuela equal to the area of New York 
state. This line was called the Schomburgk 
Line. Later Lord Aberdeen, Prime Minister of 



Americanism 


96 


Monroe Doctrine 


England, ordered Colonial Authorities to oblit¬ 
erate the line, and to destroy the posts and 
marks that defined it, and several British ad¬ 
ministrations admitted it had no validity 
whatsoever. 


AGREEMENT MADE 

In 1850 each of the parties obligated itself 
to the other not to occupy any of the then un¬ 
occupied territory in dispute until such time as 
a definite solution of the issue could be ar¬ 
ranged. Soon Venezuela accused Britain of 
encroachment, and Britain accused Venezuela 
of granting concessions to a party of capital¬ 
ists. 


URGE ARBITRATION-REFUSED 

Venezuela repeatedly had asked Britain to 
submit the matter to arbitration, but to no 
avail. Not only did Britain encroach further, 
but constantly pushed west the line of demark- 
ation. 

Several times Great Britain proposed a plan 
of settlement, but imposed such conditions 
that Venezuela could not possibly accept. One 
condition was that Venezuela should never 
alienate any part of her territory to a third 
party; another, that the Orinoco river was to 




Monroe Doctrine 97 Americanism 


be open and free to British vessels. Venezuela, 
in rejecting these proposals suggested arbitra¬ 
tion again, but Great Britain would not accede. 

Full possession of the territory inside the 
Schomburgk line was taken by the British, and 
an additional piece of land was added, extend¬ 
ing 70 miles further, so as to have a newly 
discovered gold mine; the richest on the con¬ 
tinent. 

VENEZUELA MAKES FUTILE DEMAND 

Venezuela was by this time becoming 
alarmed and aroused, and demanded that the 
agreement of 1850 be lived up to, until arbi¬ 
tration could be affected. 

BREAK WITH ENGLAND 

Venezuela now broke off diplomatic rela¬ 
tion with Great Britain, who in reply to this 
break, said she would not arbitrate along the 
lines of territory outside of Schomburgk Line; 
in other words she would not consent to arbi¬ 
tration concerning lands west of this line, un¬ 
less Venezuela would relinquish all claims to 
territory east of this line. 

AMERICA MUST STEP IN 

Altho the United States was not directly in¬ 
terested in this boundary dispute, she had fol- 




Americanism 


98 


Monroe Doctrine 


lowed with anxiety for a number of years its 
entangling features, hoping all the time that 
Great Britain would accede to the wishes of the 
weaker country, and its just demands. 

The time had now come for the United 
States to put to a real test the tenability of the 
Monroe Doctrine. Our honor, our plighted 
faith, and even our own safety demanded that 
we uphold the Monroe Doctrine. 

THE UNITED STATES WARNS ENGLAND 

Secretary of State Olney sent a communica¬ 
tion to Mr. Bayard, the United States Ambas¬ 
sador, at the Court of St. James, England, 
under date of July 20, 1895, which was deliv¬ 
ered to Lord Salisbury, Prime Minister of Eng¬ 
land, August 7, that set out in full, the attitude 
that the United States was constrained to take 
regarding the Venezuela matter. 

The letter suggested, in part, that arbitra¬ 
tion be resorted to as being the only reasonable 
and just method of settling the controversy 
under the circumstances. A definite answer 
was asked for, as to whether the British would 
or would not submit to impartial arbitration 
of the whole matter in question. 





Monroe Doctrine 


99 


Americanism 


GIVES NEGATIVE REPLY 

To this correspondence, Great Britain, in a 
letter dated November 26, 1895, signed by 
Lord Salisbury, stated that she would only 
consent to arbitration in so far as such pro¬ 
ceedings were, as previously outlined, by Great 
Britain, to Venezuela. 

CLEVELAND URGES ACTION 

President Cleveland then submitted this cor¬ 
respondence, together with a message, to Con¬ 
gress, upholding the action of Secretary Olney, 
and asking for authority to appoint a Commis¬ 
sion to determine the merits of the boundary 
dispute so that the proper course of procedure 
could be taken by the United States if any 
further action should be necessary. 

He urged also that the United States “resent 
by every means in its power” any action that 
would permit the appropriation of territory 
on the American continent, by Great Britain. 

CONGRESS UPHOLDS THE MONROE DOCTRINE 

The President's message was met with in¬ 
stant approval by the members of Congress, 
who authorized the President to appoint the 
Commission desired, and set apart the sum of 




Americanism 


100 


Monroe Doctrine 


$100,000 to defray the expenses of the Com¬ 
mission, and recommended a full investigation 
of the existing conditions. 

This Boundary Commission was given a 
very arduous task, for it was obliged to do ex¬ 
haustive and laborious research work, search¬ 
ing from the “blue books 0 of England; the 
historical records of Holland, and even the 
archives of Rome were visited, in the study of 
history of the early mission settlements, in 
order to trace the matter fully, and learn the 
rights of the contending parties. 

ENGLAND SOON RELENTS 

Before the Commission had finished its work, 
Lord Salisbury announced that the matter was 
about to be brought to a happy conclusion. 
The voice of America, thru the timely wisdom 
and fearless courage of her highest executive, 
President Grover Cleveland, had brought Eng¬ 
land to see the matter in quite a different light. 

This action on the part of Great Britain 
proved conclusively the tenability of the Mon¬ 
roe Doctrine. 

APPOINT ARBITRATORS 

An agreement was then signed, setting forth 
the appointment of a tribunal composed of 




Monroe Doctrine 


101 


Americanism 


two members of the United States Supreme 
Court, and two members of the British Su¬ 
preme Court, with a fifth member to be chosen 
by them. Should they fail to select the fifth 
member within three months of the choice of 
the four members, the King of Sweden and 
Norway was to make the appointment. 

FAMOUS DISPUTE ENDS 

The findings of this Arbitration Commission 
were approved by both England and Vene¬ 
zuela, but they were not fully satisfactory to 
either party. 

Venezuela gained one important point at 
issue nevertheless, which was that she should 
have control of the mouth of the Orinoco 
River. 


TEXT OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE 

Following is the text of the Monroe Doctrine 
as set forth in the two distinct paragraphs in 
the annual message of President Monroe to 
Congress December 2, 1823. 

The first paragraph was occasioned by the 
fact that Russia had become a probable menace 
on the northwest coast, and reads as follows: 




Americanism 


102 


Monroe Doctrine 


"The occasion has been judged proper for 
asserting as a principle—that the American con¬ 
tinents, by the free and independent conditions 
which they have assumed and maintain, are 
henceforth not to be considered as subjects for 
future colonization by any European power.” 

The second paragraph referred to the ques¬ 
tion of the possible intervention of the Holy 
Alliance with respect to the Spanish rule over 
her former colonies, and reads as follows: 


"The citizens of the United States cherish sent¬ 
iments the mostly friendly in favor of the liberty 
and happiness of their fellow-men on that side 
of the Atlantic. In the wars of the European 
powers, in matters relating to themselves we 
have never taken any part, nor does it comport 
with our policy to do so. It is only when our 
rights are invaded or seriously menaced that 
we resent injuries or make preparation for our 
defense. With the movements in this hemisphere 
we are of necessity, more immediately connected, 
and by cause which must be obvious to all en¬ 
lightened and impartial observers. The political 
system of the allied powers is essentially differ¬ 
ent in this respect from that of America. This 
difference proceeds from that which exists in 
their respective governments. And to the de¬ 
fense of our own, which has been achieved by 
the loss of so much blood and treasure, and ma¬ 
tured by the wisdom of their most enlightened 


Monroe Doctrine 103 


Americanism 


citizens, and under which we have enjoyed un¬ 
exampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. 
We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the amic¬ 
able relations existing between the United States 
and those powers, to declare that we should con- 
• sider any attempt on their part to extend their 
system to any portion of this hemisphere as 
dangerous to our peace and safety. With the 
existing colonies or dependencies of any Euro¬ 
pean power we have not interferred, and shall 
not interfere. But with the governments who 
have declared their independence, and main¬ 
tained it, and whose independence we have, on 
great consideration and on just principles, ac¬ 
knowledged, we could not view any interposition 
for the purpose of oppressing them, or controll¬ 
ing in any other manner their destiny, by any 
European power, in any other light than as the 
manifestation of an unfriendly disposition to¬ 
ward the United States/’ 

DRAFTED BY ADAMS 

These memorable sentences were written by 
John Quincy Adams, but the responsibility re¬ 
mained with President Monroe for the an¬ 
nouncement of the policy in his message to 
Congress December 2, 1823. 

ROOSEVELT WARNS KAISER 

In 1902 Germany sent a fleet of cruisers into 
Venezuelan waters, and it was supposed that 




Americanism 


104 


Monroe Doctrine 


the Kaiser was looking for an outlet for Colon¬ 
ists, and there was also some financial trouble 
existing between the two countries. 

President Roosevelt informed Germany that 
he would send Admiral Dewey with the At¬ 
lantic Squadron to raise the “Pacific Block¬ 
ade" if the German ships did not leave Vene¬ 
zuelan waters within ten days after the note 
was sent. The quick departure of the German 
cruisers was strong evidence that the Monroe 
Doctrine is still a forceful document, and the 
living instrument of our foreign policy, and to 
be held in high respect by European Powers. 

Cleveland's declaration in 1895 

When President Grover Cleveland, in 1895, 
urged Great Britain to arbitrate her dispute 
over the boundary between Venezuela and 
British Guiana, he said (December 17) in a 
message to Congress: 


“The doctrine” (Monroe) “upon which we stand is 
strong and sound because its enforcement is important 
to our peace and safety as a nation, and is essential to 
the integrity oT our free institutions and the tranquil 
maintenance of our distinctive form of government. It 
was intended to apply to every stage of our national 
life, and cannot become obsolete while our Republic en¬ 
dures. If the balance of power is justly a cause for 
jealous anxiety among the Governments of the Old 
World and a subject for our absolute non-interference, 





Monroe Doctrine 


105 


Americanism 


none the less is an observance of the Monroe Doctrine 
of vital concern to our people and their Government. 
* * * If a European power, by an extension of its boun¬ 
daries, takes possession of the territory of one of our 
neighboring republics against its will and in derogation of 
its rights, it is difficult to see why to that extent such 
European power does not thereby attempt to extend its 
system of government to that portion of this continent 
which is thus taken. This is the precise action which 
President Monroe declared to be ‘dangerous to our peace 
and safety/ and it can make no difference whether the 
European system is extended by an advance of frontier 
or otherwise. * * * The Monroe Doctrine finds its 
recognition in those principles of international law which 
are based upon the theory that every nation shall have 
its rights protected and its just claims enforced.” 


president Wilson's words— 1915 

President Wilson said of the Monroe Doc¬ 
trine (December 7, 1915), in an address to a 
joint session of Congress: 


“There was a time in the early days of our own 
great nation and of the republics fighting their way to 
independence in Central and South America when the 
Government of the United States looked upon itself as 
in some sort the guardian of the republics to the south 
of her as against any encroachments or efforts at po¬ 
litical control from the other side of the water; felt it its 
duty to play the part even without invitation from 
them; and 1 think that we can claim that the task was 
undertaken with a true and disinterested enthusiasm for 
the freedom of the Americas and the unmolested self- 
government of her independent peoples. But it was al¬ 
ways difficult to maintain such a role without offence 
to the pride of the peoples whose freedom of action we 
sought to protect and without provoking serious miscon¬ 
ceptions of our motives, and every thoughtful man of 


Americanism 


106 Monroe Doctrine 

III—-llll—-llll—Mil—MU—— Ml——Wl—|M—IM—IW——Ull— 


affairs must welcome the altered circumstances of the 
new day in whose light we now stand, when there is no 
claim of guardianship or thought of wards but, instead, 
a full and honorable association as of partners between 
ourselves and our negihbors, in the interest of all 
America, north and south. 

“Our concern for the independence and prosperity 
of the states of Central and South America is not altered. 
We retain unabated the spirit that has inspired us 
throughout the whole life of our Government and which 
was so frankly put into words by President Monroe. We 
still mean always to make a common cause of national 
independence and of political liberty in America. But 
that purpose is now better understood so far as it con¬ 
cerns ourselves. It is known not to be a selfish purpose. 
It is known to have in it no thought of taking advantage 
of any Government in this hemisphere or playing its 
political fortunes for our own benefit. All the Gov¬ 
ernments of America stand, so far as we are concerned, 
upon a footing of genuine equality and unquestioned in¬ 
dependence.” 


president harding's words in 1921 

President Harding, April 19, 1921, at the un¬ 
veiling of the Bolivar Statue, New York City, 
said: 


“Having sacrificed in arms to establish the human in¬ 
heritance belonging to free men, the American republics 
may well touch elbows to prove their unselfishness and 
show to mankind that righteous achievement does not 
mean anybody's destruction, individually or nationally, 
but that real victory lies in that human progress wherein 
every contender, individual or natural, may share as 
it is sought to merit it. 

“The doctrine proclaimed under Monroe, which ever 
since has been jealously guarded as a fundamental of our 
own Republic, maintained that these continents should 



Monroe Doctrine 107 Americanism 


not again be regarded as fields for the colonial enter¬ 
prises of Old-World powers. There have been times 
when the meaning of Monroeism was misunderstood by 
some, perverted by others, and made the subject of dis¬ 
torting propaganda by those who saw in it an obstacle 
to the realization of their own ambitions. Some have 
sought to make our adhesion to this doctrine a justifica¬ 
tion for prejudice against the United States. They have 
falsely charged that we sought to hold the nations of 
the Old World at arm’s length, in order that we might 
monopolize the privilege of exploitation for ourselves. 
Others have protested that the doctrine would, never 
be enforced if to enforce it should involve us in actual 
hostilities. 

“The history of the generations since that doctrine was 
proclaimed has proved that we never intended it 
selfishly; that we had no dream of exploitation. On the 
other side, the history of the last decade certainly must 
have convinced all the world that we stand willing to 
fight, if necessary, to protect these continents, these 
sturdy young democracies, from oppression and tyr¬ 
anny.” 











Declaration 


109 


Americanism 


Section Three 


Declaration of Independence 




Americanism 


10 


Declaration 





THOMAS JEFFERSON 

Who drafted the Declaration of Independence, which was signed July 
4, 1776. He was the third President of the United States of America 
serving two terms, 1801-1809. He died July 4, 1826. It was Jefferson 
who coined the famous phrase “entangling alliances with none,” re¬ 
lating to our foreign policy. 




Declaration 


111 


Americanism 


DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 


EFORE dealing specifically with the 
Declaration of Independence, it is well 
that we journey back some distance 
along the pathway of our glorious his¬ 
tory, and read some of the milestones 
that mark off that eventful journey. 

It is not intended that the history of Our 
Country shall be recited in these pages, but it 
may be very refreshing to the memory to have 
a few important dates set forth, and a resume 
of a few historic incidents, which made inevit¬ 
able the drafting of this famous document, the 
Declaration of Independence. 


AMERICAN HISTORIC MILESTONES 

1000 Leif Erickson touches shores of North 
America. 

1492 Columbus reaches America (Bahamas). 
1497 John Cabot reaches Labrador. 

1497 Americus Vespuccius visits north shore of 
South America. 

1607 First English colonists reach Jamestown, 
Va. 

1620 “Pilgrim Fathers” land at Plymouth Rock. 
1636 Roger Williams (separation of state and 
church). 

1643 New England Confederation. 





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Declaration 


1649 Maryland Toleration Act. 

1754 Albany Congress. 

1765 Stamp Act. 

1765 Stamp Act Congress. 

1766 Stamp Act repealed. 

1767 Tax levied on tea, etc. 

1774 Boston Port closed. 

1774 Boston Tea Party. 

1774 Repressive Acts passed. 

1774 Quebec Act. 

1774 Massachusetts Government Act. 

1774 First Continental Congress (Sept. 5). 

1775 Battle of Lexington (Apr.). 

1775 Second Continental Congress (May 10). 
1775 Battle of Bunker Hill (June 17). 

1775 Washington made Commander-in-Chief of 
Army (July 3). 

1775 “Olive Branch” petition to King George 
III. 

1776 Evacuation of Boston (Mar.). 

1776 Thousands of Hessian soldiers sent to 
America. 

1776 Declaration of Independence (July 4). 




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FIRST COLONY IN AMERICA 

The first of the Thirteen Colonies to be set¬ 
tled was Virginia. A group of Englishmen 
formed the Jamestown Expedition, and landed 
at Jamestown in the spring of 1607. This was 
the first permanent settlement of Colonists in 
the south. 

COMING OF ^PILGRIM FATHERS” 

The "Pilgrim Fathers” were responsible for 
the first settlement in the north. 

In 1620 the Mayflower, a ship of 180 tons, 
sailed from Plymouth, England, with 101 
Puritans on board. The object of these per¬ 
sons was to found a Colony in northern Vir¬ 
ginia, but adverse winds drove them out of 
their course to Cape Cod (Provincetown) 
Harbor, where they dropped anchor. 

Before landing forty-one members of this 
expedition subscribed their names, each not¬ 
ing the number of his family, on behalf of 
themselves and of their families, to the fol¬ 
lowing Compact. The names are given in the 
order of signing. 




Americanism 114 Declaration 

—itn—_im—mi—, mi—mi —ii ii—mi——»im—-mi—»i 11—— mi—mi—mi—mi—mi—mi—i hm—hh— mi— 



SIGNING THE “MAYFLOWER” COMPACT 
Forty-one “Pilgrim Fathers” signed this document, being a preliminary 
instrument toward Local Government. 



Declaration 


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Americanism 


COMPACT OF THE PILGRIMS 

(Signed on board the Mayflower in Cape Cod (Prov- 
incetown) Harbor before landing). 

“In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are 
underwritten, the loyall subjects of our dread soveraigne 
Lord, King James, by ye Grace of God, of Great Britaine, 
France & Ireland King, Defender of ye Faith, etc. Have- 
ing undertaken, for ye Glorie of God, and advancements 
of ye Christian Faith and Honour of our King and 
countrie, a Voyage to plant ye first Colonie in ye 
Northerne part of Virginia, doe by these presents sol¬ 
emnly and mutually in ye Presence of God, and of one 
another, Covenant & Combine ourselves together into a 
Civil body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preser¬ 
vation & Furtherance of ye ends aforesaid; and by 
Vertue hearof to enact, constitute, and frame such just 
and equall lawes, ordinances. Acts, Constitutions & 
Offices, from Time to Time, as shall be thought most 
meete & convenient for ye generall good of ye Colonie, 
unto which we promise all due submission and obedi¬ 
ence. 

“In witnes whereof we have hereunder subscribed our 
Names at Cap. Codd ye 11 of November, in ye year of 
ye Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King James, of Eng¬ 
land, France & Ireland ye Eighteenth, and of Scotland ye 
fiftie fourth Ano: Dom. 1620.” 

John Carber 
Wm. Bradford 
Edw. Winslow 
Wm. Brewster 
Isaac Allerton 
Miles Standish 
John Alden 
Samuel Fuller 
Chris'r Martin 
Wm. Mullins 
Wm. White 
Rich. Warren 
John Howland 
Steph. Hopkins 





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Declaration 


Edw. Tilley 
John Tilley 
Francis Cook 
Thomas Rogers 
Thomas Tinker 
John Ridgedale 
Edw. Fuller 
John Turner 
Francis Eaton 
James Chilton 
John Crackstone 
John Billington 
Moses Fletcher 
John Goodman 
Degory Priest 
Thomas Williams 
Gilbert Winslow 
Edw. Margeson 
Peter Brown 
Rich. Bitteridge 
George Soule 
Rich. Clarke 
Rich. Gardiner 
John Allerton 
Thomas English 
Edw. Doty 
Edw. Leister 


It is of historic interest to know that Mary 
Chilton, wife of James Chilton, was the first 
white woman to put foot on American soil. 





Declaration 


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"no taxation without representation” 

"No taxation without representation,” 
started early in the Colonies. The population 
had increased steadily, and trade and com¬ 
merce had become engaged in quite extensively. 
The tobacco of Virginia, and cotton and rice 
of the South were sources of much profit and 
accumulating wealth. England now began to 
seek a way to levy taxes upon this commerce 
and trade, and to levy heavy duties on im¬ 
ports. 

STAMP ACT IMPOSED 

In 1765, March 8, the British Parliament 
passed the "Stamp Act.” This Act made legal 
documents, no matter how trivial, valid only 
when a Government stamp was placed upon it, 
and an elaborate scale of prices for the differ¬ 
ent stamps was demanded. This enactment 
thoroly aroused the Colonists to protest, and a 
Stamp Act Congress was held to discuss its 
force, etc. 


STAMP ACT CONGRESS 

The Stamp Act Congress met on October 7, 
1765, in New York. Delegates attended from 
the assemblies of all the Colonies that were in 




A mericanism 


118 


Declaration 


session, except New Hampshire. The meeting 
was called at the instance of the Massachusetts 
House of Representatives on the motion of 
James Otis. 

This Congress passed a Declaration of 
Rights and petitions to the King and to the 
British Parliament. 

After this Congress, in its petitions, had 
acknowledged alliegence to the “Crown of 
Great Britain/' and declaring themselves to be 
entitled to the same liberties as “his natural 
born subjects—in Great Britain," they as¬ 
serted that “the people of the Colonies are not, 
and from their local circumstances, cannot be 
represented in the House of Commons" and 
that “no taxes can be constitutionally imposed 
upon them, but by their respective legisla¬ 
tures;" they also called attention to the clauses 
of the Tamp Act above noted, as to the trial 
of cases arising under it in the Admiralty 
Courts, and asserted “that trial by jury is the 
inherent and invaluable right of every British 
subject in these Colonies." 

A SIGNIFICANT MEETING 

The passing of the Declaration of Rights 
had great significance and bearing upon the 
future actions of the Colonies, especially as it 




Declaration 


119 Americanism 


was the first action of unity among the Col¬ 
onies coming together, on their own accord, to 
defend their rights against the encroachments 
of the King and British Parliament. 

The Stamp Act was opposed not from the 
standpoint of legislation by the Colonists, 
alone, but upon the ground also that “no tax¬ 
ation without representation” was contrary to 
the British Constitution, and one of the most 
important rights of the American Colonists, 
as Englishmen. 

The Act was repealed March 18, 1766. 

NOW COMES TEA TAX 

The triumph of the Colonists was short lived, 
however, for in 1767 the British Parliament 
passed an act to levy a tax or duty on tea, 
glass, paper and painters' supplies, etc., as well 
as a stringent revenue law relative to importa¬ 
tions. This action revived the rebellious spirit 
of the Colonists tenfold, who made a strong 
protest to the King, in which they were joined 
by the Great East India Company. The King 
refused to heed this protest, and on the con¬ 
trary declared “there should always be one tax 
to keep up the right of taxing.” 



Americanism 


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Declaration 


^BOSTON TEA party" 

Ships loaded with tea were sent to Boston, 
New York, Philadelphia, and Charlestown. 
The ships were not permitted to land their 
cargo at New York or Philadelphia, and they 
had to return to England. Upon the assurance 
that the tea would not be offered for sale at 
Charlestown it was landed, and the agreement 
was kept. At Boston, the British had a mili¬ 
tary force strong enough to compel a compli¬ 
ance with the enactment, but a number of in¬ 
censed citizens, dressed in the disguise of 
Indians, boarded the vessels, and threw the 
cargo overboard. This act was termed by a 
Boston newspaper the "Boston Tea Party" and 
always spoken of afterwards as such. 

TROUBLE BREWING FAST 

This act of the Bostonians was viewed with 
amazement by the King and the British Parlia¬ 
ment, and a determination to put an end to 
these "audacious acts by swift and ample pun¬ 
ishment" was agreed upon. 

The mode of punishment was the passing of 
the Repressive Acts March 4, 1774. The Que¬ 
bec Act was also passed about the same time. 



Declaration 


121 


Americanism 


These Acts were four in number and their 
impact was as follows: 

1. Closing of the port of Boston to commerce. 

2. Suspension of the Charter of Massachusetts. 

3. Providing for the trial outside of the colonies 
of persons (soldiers and others), who might 
be charged with crime committed while quell¬ 
ing riots within the colonies. 

4. Provision for the quartering of British 
troops within the province. 

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 

This action upon the part of the Mother 
Country strongly formulated a desire in the 
Colonies to confer together for their future 
conduct and safety, but in reality with no ex¬ 
pressed desire to sever the ties from the Mother 
Country, for Washington soon after he took 
command of the Army, July 3, 1775, said: 

“When I took command of the Army, (July, 

1775), I abhorred the idea of independence; now, 

I am convinced, nothing else will save us.” 

These Repressive Acts on the part of Britain 
brought great financial distress among the 
business men, which was naturally felt thruout 
the Colonies, and kindled a flame of discontent 
that was soon fanned to a Revolutionary fire. 




Americanism 


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Declaration 


New York and Rhode Island proposed that 
a general Congress be held. Virginia burgesses 
formed a revolutionary Committee of Cor¬ 
respondence at a convention, and advocated 
the holding of an annual intercolonial congress, 
and voted that, “an attack upon one colony 
was an attack upon all British America/' but 
the actual call for the first Continental Con¬ 
gress, however, was made by Massachusetts 
June 17, 1774. 

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 

The First Continental Congress was con¬ 
vened at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774. 
Each Colony was represented. The delegates 
were not elected by the people, but were chosen 
thru the advice and counsel of the ablest men 
in each Colony. 

Neither Jefferson nor Franklin were dele¬ 
gates to this Congress. Jefferson had not been 
chosen as a delegate, and Franklin was still in 
England, acting as the Colonial Agent. 

WHAT WAS DONE BY THIS CONGRESS 

This Congress adopted a Declaration of 
Rights, also established the American Associa¬ 
tion, which was to secure the enforcement of a 
general non-importation and non-consumption 



Declaration 


123 


Americanism 


agreement. The execution of this policy was 
no longer to be left to chance. It was recom¬ 
mended that election of a committee by the 
county, town or other administrative unit in 
each Colony, which should oversee the carrying 
out of non-intercourse with Great Britain. 
These local committees were to be supervised 
by the Colonial Committees of Correspondence. 
All offenders against the agreement were to be 
punished, and any Colony showing hostility to 
the agreement was regarded as being ‘‘hostile 
to the liberties of this country/' and denied all 
intercourse with members of the Association. 

The First Continental Congress adjourned 
in October, and provided for a second meeting 
in May, 1775, unless the grievances were re¬ 
dressed in the meantime. 

SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 

The Second Continental Congress was con¬ 
vened May 10, 1775, and was at first an advis¬ 
ory body, and did not act for the purpose of 
seeking independence, but for redress of griev¬ 
ances. 

March of events, however, caused this body 
to take upon itself sovereign powers, and under 
its authority the American Revolution began 




Americanism 


124 


Declaration 


with the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, 
and the invasion of Canada. It took in its 
power the general defense of the Colonies; 
ordered the formation of an army; drew up 
regulations for its Government; established a 
Committee of Correspondence abroad, and as¬ 
sumed the exclusive control of Foreign affairs. 
It also issued paper money with which to pay 
the soldiers, and for supplies for the Army. 

On July 3, 1775, this congress appointed 
George Washington Commander-in-Chief of 
the Continental Army. 

JEFFERSON SUCCEEDED WASHINGTON 

After Washington was given command of 
the Continental Army, Thomas Jefferson suc¬ 
ceeded him as the Virginia delegate, and the 
next petition that was sent to the King, by 
Congress, was more bold in tone than any 
which had been sent previously. 

Congress now demanded the repeal of “such 
statutes as were immediately distressing any 
of your Majesty's Colonies." 

This was called the “Olive Branch" petition, 
but the King's answer to this was the issuance 
of a proclamation denouncing the Colonists as 
“dangerous and ill-designing men." 




Declaration 


125 


Americanism 


HESSIANS IN THOUSANDS 

The British King, George III, employed 
about 30,000 Hessians to sail to America and 
surprise the Colonists. There was nothing un¬ 
usual in this sending of Hessians to America, 
as it had always been customary for England 
to hire these professional German soldiers. 

This was a grave political blunder, altho, on 
the part of the British Parliament, because the 
majority of the Colonists were converted to a 
policy which culminated in an alliance with 
France, and gave America the ever memorable 
services of that great French gentleman and 
soldier, Lafayette, who shared honors with us 
when the Treaty of Peace was signed in his 
beloved land, at Paris, September 3, 1783. 

THIRTEEN COLONIES UNITED 

The Thirteen Original Colonies were colon¬ 
ized by people of various origin, of every form 
of religious faith and belief, and of different 
nationalities. In Delaware there were Swedes; 
in Pennsylvania, Germans; in New York, 
Dutch. There were Catholics in Maryland 
and Delaware; the Quakers were established in 
Pennsylvania; and those of the Church of Eng¬ 
land faith held power in Virginia, and in the 


A mericanism 


126 


Declaration 


South. The Huguenots settled in New York; 
and the Pilgrims in Massachusetts; the Liber¬ 
als in Rhode Island; and the Non-Conformists 
were scattered all over the Thirteen Colonies. 

It is hard to imagine a greater mixture of 
origin, habits, caste, religious belief and religi¬ 
ous dissent than was to be found among the 
first settlers in Our Country. Yet when the 
great hour of trial came, these same people, en 
masse, thru some marvellous power of cohe¬ 
sion, were bound together in ties so strong that 
not even ordinary differences or discussions, 
which usually separate and keep apart com¬ 
munities holding different religious belief and 
customs, could deter them from the coalition 
which they agreed to form. 

It is well for every American to read of the 
great privations that the Colonial soldiers suf¬ 
fered, especially at Valley Forge. This is what 
Washington says about the brave men he had 
with him at Valley Forge, and in the early 
days of the Revolution: 

“To see men without clothes to cover their 
nakedness, without blankets to lie on, without 
shoes (for want of which their marches might 
be traced by the blood from their feet)—is a 
proof of patience and obedience which, in my 
opinion, can scarce be paralleled/’ 




Declaration 127 Americanism 



PILGRIMS GOING TO CHURCH 
Gun in hand the early Colonists trod their way to worship. 


Americanism 


128 


Declaration 


And again: 

“For some days there has been little less than a 
famine in camp. A part of the army has been a 
week without any kind of flesh—naked and 
starving as they are, we cannot enough admire 
the incomparable patience and fidelity of the 
soldiery.” 

There is no story written that has more stir¬ 
ring, befitting, historic interest than that of the 
settlement of the Thirteen Colonies. Read 
what these early settlers had to contend with; 
no wonder the United States has become a 
great world power, and the people a great peo¬ 
ple. It was inevitable with such ancestors. 
Famine and pestilence stalked thru the land 
at all times; the Pilgrim Fathers went to wor¬ 
ship with gun in hand, and the many contests 
with the Indians soon made the Colonists a 
fighting race, alert and sharp witted; so when 
the time came to meet the tyranny of the arbi¬ 
trary powers of the Mother Country they were 
ready, and became victorious. 

WHAT THE COLONISTS CAME FOR 

The early settlers of America did not come 
to our shores for the purpose of forming a new 
Nation or Country. They did not come in 
search of gold and silver, nor to fish, nor to 




Declaration 


129 


Americanism 


kill or exploit the Indians. They came mainly 
to establish a new home. This applies equally 
to the members of the Jamestown Expedition, 
the first settlers, and the hardy pioneers of 
Plymouth. Let it be remembered that the 
“Pilgrim Fathers” came to America direct 
from Holland, and not from England. 

They all loved their homeland. It was the 
home of their fathers, and had been their home 
until they sailed to the New World. Their 
friends and their kindred were still in England. 
They left their native land cheerfully acknowl¬ 
edging their obligation and allegience to their 
King; especially when the territory was given 
under a Royal grant, but one and all claimed 
political freedom of original and local organi¬ 
zation, but the trend of events as recited in the 
previous pages eventually drove the Colonists 
to the signing of the Declaration of Independ¬ 
ence. 

NOW MOVE FOR INDEPENDENCE 

Virginia, the first of the Thirteen Colonies, 
took the premier step in the movement of sev¬ 
ering ties with the Mother Country. In May, 
1776, the Virginia delegates to Congress were 
instructed to propose a declaration of inde- 




Americanism 


130 


Declaration 


pendence, and Richard Henry Lee, the chair¬ 
man of the delegation, moved the following 
resolution, also two others; the full text of the 
first being as follows: 

“That these United Colonies are, and of right 
ought to be, free and independent states, that 
they are absolved from all allegiance to the Brit¬ 
ish crown, and that all political connection be¬ 
tween them and the state of Great Britain is, 
and ought to be, totally dissolved.” 

This resolution was debated upon and con¬ 
sidered, but action upon it was postponed until 
July 1. 

In the meantime a committee, composed of 
Thomas Jefferson, Benj. Franklin, John 
Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robt. R. Livings¬ 
ton, was appointed to draft a declaration for 
consideration in case the Virginia resolution 
should be adopted. 

Jefferson, who had so ably written the Sum¬ 
mary View, and the Virginia Declaration of 
Independence, was chosen as being the best 
fitted to formulate the ideas in the minds of 
the colonists. 

So Jefferson set to work immediately upon a 
draft, and while it was still in the rough he sub¬ 
mitted it to the members of the committee, 



Declaration 


131 


Americanism 


who gave it most careful consideration. Frank¬ 
lin and Adams offered some most important 
suggestions, and revised the draft in part. The 
original rough draft contained a strong state¬ 
ment against slave trading, but after careful 
consideration by the committee it was struck 
out. 


MEMORABLE JULY FOURTH 

This committee reported and presented the 
draft to Congress June 28, thru its chairman, 
Thomas Jefferson. Six of the Colonies hesi¬ 
tated on accepting the Declaration—New 
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, 
Maryland, and South Carolina—and the mat¬ 
ter was held over for further discussion until 
July 1. 

On July 4 Congress passed the Declaration 
of Independence, but Congress was adjourned 
until July 15, in order that pressure might be 
brought to bear upon New York and Maryland 
to withdraw their restrictions upon their dele¬ 
gates, who were personally favorable to inde¬ 
pendence, and a complete severence from the 
Mother Country, but who were compelled to 
vote negative on the Declaration of Independ¬ 
ence issue. 





Americanism 


132 


Declaration 


ALL FREE AND UNANIMOUS 

On this date, July 15, all delegates were free 
to vote “yes,” and did so unanimously, and 
Congress set July 19, as the day when the Dec¬ 
laration of Independence should be engrossed, 
and signed by every member. This famous 
document had already been signed by John 
Hancock, who was president of the Congress, 
and the secretary, Charles Thompson. 

The final and engrossed copy was presented 
to Congress August 2, and all of the members 
signed it who were preesnt. The first signa¬ 
ture was that of Josiah Bartlett, of New 
Hampshire, and the last, Mathew Thornton of 
the same Colony, when he took his seat in Con¬ 
gress November 4, 1776. 

The draft as submitted to Congress has been 
lost, but the engrossed copy is now in Inde¬ 
pendence Hall, Philadelphia, where it was 
signed, and where the sessions of the Conti¬ 
nental Congress were held. 

READ THIS HISTORIC DOCUMENT 

It is hoped that every true American will 
read this famous historic document, and the 
author quotes Dr. Edward O. Sisson, Professor 
of Philosophy and Education, at Reed College, 




Declaration 


133 


Americanism 


Portland, Oregon, on this subject, which is part 
of an address given at the commencement ex¬ 
ercises of the Washington High School, Port¬ 
land, Oregon, Midyear class 1923: 

“Don’t forget the Declaration of Independ¬ 
ence; the constitution can be amended; not so 
the Declaration; it is for all time. It contains 
the basic principle of all modern democracy; 
honestly and resolutely applied, it will save the 
Republic from both tyranny and anarchy; it 
has destroyed the oppression of Kings and alien 
parliaments; it will avert the domination of a 
class, such as now seems to prevail in unhappy 
Russia. 

“But the principles of the Declaration cut 
deep into the every day life of people; we have 
a nation of over a hundred million human be¬ 
ings, and the Declaration embraces them all; 
the stupendous task of American politics and 
economics is to make good what the Declaration 
promises (life, liberty and the pursuit of happi¬ 
ness), for the whole hundred millions.” 

The full text of the Declaration of Independ¬ 
ence follows: 



Americanism 


134 


Declaration 




-mi—mi— 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 
Committee composed of Thomas Jefferson, Benj. Franklin, John Adams, 
Roger Sherman, and Robt. R. Livingstone, presenting the draft of the 
Declaration of Independence to Congress. John Hancock, President of 
the Continental Congress, is seated in front of the committee. 






Declaration 


135 


Americanism 


DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 

In Congress, July 4, 1776 

The Unanimous Declaration 
of THE 

Thirteen United States of America 

When in the course of human events, it becomes neces¬ 
sary for one people to dissovle the political bonds which 
have connected them with another, and to assume, among 
the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to 
which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle 
them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind re¬ 
quires that they should declare the causes which impel 
them to the separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 
are created equal; that they are endowed by their Cre¬ 
ator with certain inalienable rights; that among these 
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to 
secure these rights, governments are instituted among 
men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the 
governed; that whenever any form of government be¬ 
comes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the 
people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new gov¬ 
ernment, laying its foundation on such principles, and 
organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem 
most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prud¬ 
ence, indeed, will dictate that government long estab¬ 
lished should not be changed for light and transient 
causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that 
mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are suf¬ 
ferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms 
to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of 
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same 
object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute 
despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off 
such government, and to provide new guards for their 
future security. Such has been the patient sufferance 



Americanism 


13 6 


Declaration 




of these Colonies, and such is now the necessity which 
constrains them to alter their former system of govern¬ 
ment. The history of the present King of Great Britain 
is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all hav¬ 
ing in direct object the establishment of an absolute 
tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be 
submitted to a candid world. 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome 
and necessary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of im¬ 
mediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in 
their operation until his assent should be obtained; and 
when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend 
to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommo¬ 
dation of large districts of people, unless those people 
would relinquish the right of representation in the legis¬ 
lature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to 
tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places 
unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository 
of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing 
them into compliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for 
opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights 
of the people. 

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, 
to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative 
powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the 
people at large for their exercise; the State remaining, 
in the meantime, exposed to all the dangers of invasion 
from without and convulsions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these 
States; for that purpose obstructing the laws for natural¬ 
ization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encour¬ 
age their migration hither; and raising the conditions of 
new appropriations of lands. 





Declaration 


137 


A mericanism 




He has obstructed the administration of justice by 
refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary 
powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for 
the tenure of their offices and the amount and payment 
of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent 
hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat 
out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing 
armies, without the consent of our legislatures. 

He has affected to render the military independent of 
and superior to the civil power. 

He has combined with others to subject us to a juris¬ 
diction foreign to our constitution and unacknowledged 
by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended 
legislation. 

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us. 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punish¬ 
ment for any murders which they should commit on the 
inhabitants of these States. 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world. 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent. 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of 
trial by jury. 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pre¬ 
tended offenses. 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a 
neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary 
government and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render 
it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing 
the same absolute rule into these Colonies. 

For taking -away our charters, abolishing our most 
valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of 
our governments. 




Americanism 


138 


Declaration 


For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring 
themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all 
cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us 
out of his protection and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt 
our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of for¬ 
eign mercenaries to complete the works of death, deso¬ 
lation, and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of 
cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most bar¬ 
barous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized 
nation. 

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive 
on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to 
become the executioners of their friends and brethren, 
or to fall themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrection amongst us, and 
has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our front¬ 
iers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of 
warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, 
sexes, and conditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned 
for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated pe¬ 
titions have been answered only by repeated injury. A 
prince whose character is thus marked by every act 
which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a 
free people. 

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British 
brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of 
attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable 
jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the 
circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. 
We have appealed to their native justice and magnanim¬ 
ity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our com¬ 
mon kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would 
inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. 
They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and 
of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the 





Declaration 


139 


Americanism 


necessity which denounces our separation and hold them, 
as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace, 
friends. 

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States 
of America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to 
the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our 
intentions, do, in the name and by the authority of the 
good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and 
declare: That these United Colonies are, and of right 
ought to be, free and independent States; that they are 
absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and 
that all political connection between them and the State 
of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; 
and that as free and independent States they haye full 
power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, 
establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things 
which independent States may of right do. And for the 
support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the 
protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to 
each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 

JOHN HANCOCK, 
President of the Continental Congress. 
Attested by Charles Thompson, Secretary. 


Following are the names of the delegates 
from the Thirteen Original Colonies who 
signed the Declaration. 

The majority of the signers of the Declara¬ 
tion were men of the gentry as they were called 
in those days, and were quite well off. There 
were 26 Lawyers, 8 Merchants, 6 Doctors, 6 
Farmers, 2 Statesmen, and 1 General, Soldier, 
Shoemaker, Sailor, Surveyor, and Minister. 




Americanism 140 Declaration 


SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION 


New Hampshire 

JOSIAH BARTLETT 
Physician 

WM. WHIPPLE 
Sailor 

MATHEW THORNTON 
Physician 

Georgia 

BUTTON GWINNETT 
Merchant 

LYMAN HALL 
Physician 

GEORGE WALTON 
Lawyer 

South Carolina 

EDWARD RUTLEDGE 
Lawyer 

THOMAS HEYWARD, Jr. 
Lawyer 

THOMAS LYNCH, Jr. 
Lawyer 

ARTHUR MIDDLETON 
Lawyer 

North Carolina 

WM. HOOPER 
Lawyer 

JOSEPH HEWES 
Lawyer 

JOHN PENN 
Lawyer 


Virginia 

GEORGE WYTHE 
Lawyer 

RICHARD HENRY LEE 
Soldier 

THOMAS JEFFERSON 
Lawyer 

BENJ. HARRISON 
Farmer 

THOMAS NELSON, Jr. 
Statesman 

FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT 
LEE 

Farmer 

CARTER BRAXTON 
Planter 

Delaware 

CAESAR RODNEY 
General 

GEORGE READ 
Lawyer 

THOMAS MCKEAN 
Lawyer 

New Jersey 

RICHARD STOCKTON 
Lawyer 

JOHN WITHERSPOON 
Minister 

FRANCIS HOPKINSON 
Lawyer 




Declaration 


141 


Americanism 


JOHN HART 
Farmer 

ABRAHAM CLARK 
Lawyer 

Rhode Island 

STEPHEN HOPKINS 
Farmer 

WM. ELLERY 
Lawyer 

Massachusetts Bay 

SAMUEL ADAMS 
Merchant 

JOHN ADAMS 
Lawyer 

ROBT. TREAT PAINE 
Lawyer 

ELBRIDGE GERRY 
Merchant 

Maryland 

SAMUEL CHASE 
Lawyer 

WM. PACA 
Lawyer 

THOMAS STONE 
Lawyer 

CHARLES CARROLL 
Lawyer 

Pennsylvania 

ROBT. MORRIS 
Merchant 

BENJ. RUSH 
Physician 


BENJ. FRANKLIN 
Printer 

JOHN MORTON 
Surveyor 

GEORGE CLYMER 
Merchant 

JAMES SMITH 
Lawyer 

GEORGE TAYLOR 
Physician 

JAMES WILSON 
Lawyer 

GEORGE ROSS 
Lawyer 

New York 

WM. FLOYD 
Farmer 

PHILLIP LIVINGSTON 
Merchant 

FRANCIS LEWIS 
Merchant 

LEWIS MORRIS 
Farmer 

Connecticut 

ROGER SHERMAN 
Shoemaker 

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON 
Lawyer 

WM. WILLIAMS 
Statesman 

OLIVER WOLCOTT 
Physician 









Constitution 


143 


Americanism 


Section Four 

Constitution of the United States 
of America 


As done in Convention, 1787, together with the Nine¬ 
teen Amendments as ratified by the several States 



Americanism 

"HU" "" mi ■■■■ iin — ■mi— M ini — mi- nn« 


144 


Constitution 

>IIH—IIM——Mil—im—MM—IIM—llll— 



THE FEDERAL CAPITOL AT NIGHT 

Phis is where the laws of Our Country are made. Both the Senate 
and the House of Representative members meet here. 





Constitution 


145 


Americanism 


MAKING THE CONSTITUTION 

HERE is no part of the history of Our 
Nation more important to be fully un¬ 
derstood than the first endeavors of 
our Colonial Forefathers to form a 
strong Central Government, and the 
events, vicissitudes, and blunders that led up 
to the forming, adopting and final ratification 
of a workable Federal Government. 

Following is a list of events which, at a 
glance, shows the historic steps taken towards 
the inevitable result; the forming of a work¬ 
able National Government operated under the 
present Constitution of the United States of 
America: 


New England Confederacy _ 1643 

Albany Congress, or Plan _ 1754 

Stamp Act Congress _ 1765 

First Continental Congress_1774 

Second Continental Congress__1775 

Declaration of Independence _ 1776 

Articles of Confederation _ 1777 

Alexandria Meeting _ 1785 

Convention of Annapolis _1786 

Constitutional Convention _1787 

Constitution in force _1789 



















A mericanism 


146 


Constitution 


The initial code of laws, under which the 
United States of America was governed, was 
known as the Articles of Confederation. These 
were adopted in November, 1777, but were 
soon found wanting and ineffective. 

On September 17, 1787, the present Consti¬ 
tution of the United States of America was 
adopted by the consent of 39 delegates, (55 
attended) sitting in convention, in Independ¬ 
ence Hall, at Philadelphia. 

DELAWARE FIRST TO RATIFY 

Delaware was the first state to ratify the 
Constitution, December 7, 1787, and did so, 
thru its delegates, unanimously. Rhode Island 
was the last, and did so, May 29, 1790, by a 
vote of 34 to 32. 

The Constitution came into force March, 
1789, after New Hampshire, the ninth state to 
ratify, signed. It was necessary for nine states 
to ratify, before it became effective. See Art¬ 
icle VII, Constitution. 

FRAMING THE CONSTITUTION 

Our present Constitution was not founded 
altogether upon theory, or first thot, of the 
Fathers of the Constitution, but was drafted 




Constitution 


147 


Americanism 


in a large measure upon real experience in the 
existence of previous documents, or codes of 
law. 

Each of the Thirteen Colonies was governed 
under a written code of laws, and many parts 
of Our Constitution are clever adaptations and 
improved wordings from the most effective of 
these laws. 

Then it must be remembered that the great 
constitutional documents such as the Magna 
Charta, the Petition of Rights, and the Habeas 
Corpus Act, of British fame, were available, 
and in many instances the exact wording from 
these was used in the charters of some of the 
States. 

The origin of our Supreme Court we may lay 
to the British Privy Council. 

The veto of the President to the Constitu¬ 
tion of Massachusetts. 

The electoral college scheme to the Consti- 
tion of Maryland. 

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES RIGHT 

Ours is a "government of the people, by the 
people, and for the people/' by Lincoln; Get¬ 
tysburg Address. 



Americanism 


148 


Constitution 


The principles upon which Our Government 
were formed grew into being thru a just view 
of the rights of man, and the Declaration of 
Independence prescribes these rights as, “life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness/' as well 
as that “all men are created equal." 

How great then is our inheritance, and how 
enviable is our lot. Any boy in America may 
go forth to win any position in the gift of the 
Nation, with scores of agencies awaiting his 
coming, which offer counsel and impetus to 
urge him upon his way. This applies equally 
to the boy of the humblest home as well as the 
boy of the millionaire. 

No wonder Lord Bacon said: 

"It remaineth for God and angels to be lookers on.” 


One glowing example as to what heights an 
American of humble status may ascend is evi¬ 
denced in the life of Roger Sherman, of Con¬ 
necticut. He was a shoemaker in early life, 
but being ambitious and imbued with the thot 
that “all men are created equal," he fervently 
applied himself to the study of law; became a 
lawyer, and afterwards a judge in the superior 
court. 





PATRICK HENRY AROUSES FEELING 
One of America’s great orators at the dawning of the Revolution, 
speaking at the First Continental Convention, 1774. He, together with 
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Richard Henry Lee, did not favor 
the present Constitution, and they did not even attend the Constitutional 

Convention in 1787. 







Americanism 


150 


Constitution 


This same man had the unique distinction 
of signing the Declaration of Independence, 
the Articles of Confederation, and the Consti¬ 
tution of the United States of America, as a 
delegate from Connecticut. 

PATRICK HENRY AROUSES FEELING 

At the dawning of the Revolution, public 
opinion, in the Colonies, started to kindle along 
the lines of the formulation of a National Gov¬ 
ernment, and it was Patrick Henry who stirred 
that opinion into real active motion, when he 
said, on the first day of the meeting of Conti¬ 
nental Congress: 

“Where are your landmarks, your boundaries of 
Colonies?” 

“The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvan- 
nians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more; 

I am not a Virginian, but an American.” 

The necessity for a code of laws for govern¬ 
ing Our Country was soon realized, and a reso¬ 
lution; 

“that freemen of the Colonies should be represented in 
Congress, according to numbers” 

was proposed by Henry, which was the initia¬ 
tion of one of our most important issues, but 
there being no means of ascertaining the popu- 



Constitution 


151 


Americanism 


lation of the several Colonies, it was finally 
decided that each Colony should have one vote. 

POWER OF CONGRESS WANES 

Owing to the fact that each State had formed 
a workable State Government, soon after the 
Declaration of Independence had been signed, 
the Continental Congress lost much of its 
authority; in a measure, due to the fact that 
the local legislatures had acquired the right 
to appoint the delegates to Congress, but more 
especially was this due to the fact that the 
legislatures of the several States were more 
under the control of the people than Congress 
was. 

The ablest statesmen of the time realized 
that this was detrimental to the Nation at 
large, so they caused the Articles of Confeder¬ 
ation to be drafted, and sent to the several 
States for consideration, and they became our 
first National code of laws. 

FIRST DRAFT FOR GOVERNMENT 

Benj. Franklin made the first draft for 
formulating a Federal Union. This plan was 
read before the members of the Second Con¬ 
tinental Congress, July 21, 1775. 



Americanism 


152 


Constitution 


He also drew up the elaborate plan for Co¬ 
lonial Union, read at the Albany Congress in 
1754. This meeting was held by several Col¬ 
onies at the instance of the British Board of 
Trade and Plantations, for the purpose of 
formulating a stronger Union among the Col¬ 
onies, and to discuss purchases and settlements 
of lands from natives. 

It will be remembered that when Richard 
Henry Lee, of Virginia, offered the resolution 
in Congress, May 17, 1776, calling for inde¬ 
pendence, he submitted two others as well, and 
one of these was a resolution planning the 
Articles of Confederation. 

NEW ENGLAND CONFEDERACY 

The New England Confederacy, 1643, was 
the first coalition of the Colonies; Massachu¬ 
setts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut and New 
Haven, forming the Union. Rhode Island was 
not permitted to join this Union; firstly, be¬ 
cause Plymouth claimed her, and secondly, be¬ 
cause the other Colonies thot Rhode Island was 
not governed strictly enough. 

This Union was formed in order that they 
might assert their rights more vigorously 
against the impending dangers from England 



Constitution 


153 


Americanism 


(separation of State and Church trouble, 
brought to an issue by Roger Williams); to 
restrict the claim of the Dutch to the Connecti¬ 
cut Valley; watch the movements of the 
French in the north, and to cope with the war¬ 
ring Pequot Indians. 

Each of these Colonies had two representa¬ 
tives in the Union, but Massachusetts, which 
had a population equal to the other three added 
together, was the most influential force. 

CONFEDERACY LASTS FORTY YEARS 

This Confederacy lasted for 40 years, and 
the spirit of compromise, or the giving up of 
supposed advantages for the common good, 
which permeated the deliberations of this im¬ 
portant body's activities, during the early his¬ 
tory making days of Our Country, was an ex¬ 
cellent precedent to be followed, and was 
largely followed during the next Century by 
the statemen of the Thirteen Colonies. 

"grand committee" formed 

Having before it the plans of both Franklin 
and Lee, Congress appointed a "Grand Com¬ 
mittee," composed of one member from each 
Colony, and this body was instructed to devise 
a plan of Union. 




Americanism 


154 


Constitution 


Thru its chairman, John Dickinson, a plan 
was submitted in July, and this original draft 
is known in history as, "Dickinson’s Draft.” 

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 

This plan was under discussion and debate 
until November, 1777, when Congress adopted 
the draft, greatly revised, terming it the Art¬ 
icles of Confederation. 

As previously stated, each State possessed 
its own Legislative Body and its own system of 
laws, but Congress held the power formerly 
vested in the British King, that it could make 
war and declare peace, and maintain an Army 
and Navy. 


POWER OF ARTICLES 

These articles, which increased the power of 
the Central Government at that time, gave 
Congress the following powers: 

1. To determine questions of peace and war. 

2. To attend to foreign affairs of every kind. 

3. To manage Indian affairs. 

4. To call upon the States for their share of 
the expenses of the Central Government. 

5. To settle disputes between States concerning 
boundaries. 

6. To establish and regulate post offices. 



Constitution 


155 


Americanism 


AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES FAIL 

Even before all the States had ratified the 
Articles of Confederation, it was realized that 
they were weak and ineffective. Attempts 
had been made to amend them, but they were 
never consummated. 

Washington, always a strong figure in the 
early making of Our Country, realized that the 
Articles would have to be abandoned, and a 
new draft of laws be devised, in order that a 
closer union of the States be formed. 

During the war Washington again and again 
urged the States to give Congress more power. 
Just before retiring to private life he sent a 
“Circular Letter,” to the Governors declaring 
that it was the duty of every true patriot to 
insist: 

“that there should be lodged somewhere a su¬ 
preme power to regulate and govern the general 
concerns of the Confederated Republic, that 
whatever measures have a tendency to dissolve 
the Union ought to be considered hostile to the 
liberty and independence of America.” 

For the next three or four years Washington 
was constantly writing and speaking in favor 
of a firmer Union. To his friend, Gov. Har¬ 
rison, he wrote in 1874:— 



Americanism 156 Constitution 


"An extension of Federal powers would make 
us one of the most wealthy, happy and power¬ 
ful nations on the globe. I predict the worst 
consequences from a half-starving, limping gov¬ 
ernment, tottering at every step.” 

To John Jay, 1786:— 


“I do not conceive that we can exist long as a 
nation without a power which will pervade the 
whole Union—I am told that even respectable 
persons speak of a monarchy without horror.” 

HAMILTON A POWER 

There is no statesman of the early days who 
left plainer “footprints” on the sands of time 
than Alexander Hamilton. In his series of 
educative and informative articles regarding 
the Constitution, under the heading of “The 
Federalist,” he gave to the people the clearest, 
most concise, and direct interpretation of 
America’s Great Charter that has ever been 
written. 

In his defense for a new Constitution he 
said: 


"If we mean to succeed in the contest and be 
happy hereafter, it is necessary that we have a 
vigorous government.” 





Constitution 


157 


Americanism 


HARDING RE HAMILTON 

The following few selections are from an ad¬ 
dress given by President Harding, May 17, 
1923, at the unveiling of the Alexander Ham¬ 
ilton Memorial Statue, on the South Plaza, 
Treasury Building, Washington, D. C.: 


"In the appraisal of constructive contribution to the 
making of our America, Alexander Hamilton stands fore¬ 
most and merits our reverent tribute for all succeeding 
time. 

"Hamilton was the inspiring and insistent advocate of 
union. And the creative genius in the making of the 
Constitution. More, he was the practical politician, who 
brought about its necessary adoption. 

"When his plan was adopted, he became the master 
builder, and the integrity of the nation’s financial honor 
is his monument for the ages. 

"It was from Hamilton’s lips that came the finest ut¬ 
terance ever made concerning human liberty: ‘The 
sacred rights of mankind are written as with a sunbeam, 
by the hand of Divinity itself, never to be erased or 
obscured by mortal power.' 

"In all the criticism of him, and there was intensity 
of criticism and-maddening bitterness of controversy in 
those days, his sincerity was never questioned. As a 
believer in the highest degree of liberty, he was eager 
for a nationality strong enough to guarantee the se¬ 
curity of liberty. 

"Another phase of Hamilton’s distinguished career 
may well inspire all grateful Americans. Talleyrand 
emphasized it in his American visit. Driving by Ham¬ 
ilton’s modest law office late at night, to which the Sec¬ 
retary had retired at the age of 38, and noting the night 
light indicating late hours of toil Talleyrand remarked 
that he was witnessing the eighth wonder of the world— 



Americanism 


158 


Constitution 


a statesman of matchless talent and every opportunity 
to acquire wealth retired from public service poor, 
striving professionally to earn a livelihood for his family. 

"If we will carry on, visualizing the nation of which 
he dreamed; if we will maintain the national viewpoint 
and emphasize the interwoven intimacy of all activities, 
interdependent, where none may permanently prosper 
without a prosperous whole; if we will throttle the false 
cry of class where none need exist in the beckoning of 
American opportunity; if we will be as hopefully Amer¬ 
ican and as whole-heartedly American as they were in 
the immortal beginning, the future will be secure. These 
we must do, no matter what political sacrifices are made 
in the recommitment. 

"Here stands, Mr. Secretary, the memorial to a great 
lover of liberty, a great patriot, a great soldier, a colos¬ 
sal statesman, a mighty American. Time has brought 
our appraisal of him out of the mists of misunderstand¬ 
ing and given us a measure of his true greatness. 

“If I were to select one attribute above all others for 
the inspiration of the Americans of today and the mor¬ 
row it would not be his brilliance of mind or his gift of 
eloquence, or his matchless genius, or his prophetic 
vision; but I should recommend his courage of patriot¬ 
ism, which put his devotion to the Republic’s welfare 
before popular approval or personal fortune, and his 
unconditional gift of heart, mind and soul to the mak¬ 
ing of an imperishable temple of freedom in these 
United States.” 

WEAKNESS OF ARTICLES 

Where the Articles of Confederation were 
found wanting and ineffective was from the 
fact that Congress could not tax the people of 
the several States, and had no power, or vested 
authority, to compel obedience in a State or 
from an individual. 



Constitution 


159 


Americanism 


Thus it became fully apparent that no Cen¬ 
tral Government could finally exist under the 
code of laws as set forth in the Articles of Con¬ 
federation. 

TERMINATES SERIOUS CRISIS 

It is very instructive and interesting to read 
what Prof. Channing, of Harvard University, 
has to say regarding the importance of the 
Articles of Confederation in his Students His¬ 
tory of the United States: 

“The Articles are contemptible as a scheme 
of government; but the fact of their adoption 
was one of the half dozen most important 
events in the history of the United States. The 
people of the thirteen states, who were strug¬ 
gling together for independence might have 
formed one government or thirteen governments, 
or any number of governments between one and 
thirteen, as they saw fit; that they preferred to 
live bound together by even the loosest ties, 
showed a spirit of nationalism which was cer¬ 
tain to lead to better results. 

Before condemning the men of 1776 for draw¬ 
ing up such an absurd scheme, it is well to re¬ 
member that they had no experience to guide 
them; never before had a confederation of the 
size of the United States ever been proposed; 
never before had any one tried to write out on 


Americanism 


160 


Constitution 


paper a constitution for such a federation. The 
adoption of the Articles terminated one of the 
most serious crisis in the history of the United 
States. The gravity of the occasion may easily 
be gathered from the fact that it was nearly 
four years ere the legislatures of the thirteen 
states gave their consent to the new form of gov¬ 
ernment. The principle reason for this delay 
was the dispute which had arisen as to the dis¬ 
posal of the land between the Alleghanies and 
the Mississippi.” 

CONGRESS DENIES CLAIMS 

Several States laid claim to the territory in 
question, but Congress refused to enquire into 
the merits of these claims, and suggested that 
all States making claim to territory other than 
that which they now populated, should cede 
this land to the United States, to be admin¬ 
istered in the interests of the States at large. 

New York made the first move, and waived 
all its claims, and Virginia followed. Mary¬ 
land, which had refused to ratify the Articles of 
Confederation, partly, on account of this issue, 
now relented and signed (March, 1781), and 
the Articles went into force soon after. Georgia 
(1802) was the last to comply. 



Constitution 


161 


A mericanism 


APPLY NATIONAL CREED 

It is an interesting bit of history to read how 
Our National Creed, the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence, was put into practice by the Con¬ 
gress of the Thirteen Colonies. 

In 1787 the Congress of the Confederation 
passed an ordinance, or law, for the governing 
of the territory northwest of the Ohio, and pro¬ 
vided for the ultimate forming of new States. 

This Ordinance was in reality a Constitution 
for the Colonies to be settled in this new terri¬ 
tory, and specified that the Colonists were to 
have Republic Governments, and full political 
rights, as soon as their numbers reached a point 
of justification; in fact, they were to be admit¬ 
ted to the Union. 

This, then, meant that the Colonists were to 
be placed upon an equal footing with those of 
the Home Government, and put into practice 
Our National Creed, the Declaration of Inde¬ 
pendence, which promised “Life, liberty, and 
the pursuit of happiness/' and that, “all men 
were created equal." 

“ordinance of 1787" 

This ordinance, called the “Ordnance of 
1787," as drafted by Jefferson; was one of 





Americanism 


162 


Constitution 


the wisest, and one of the final acts of the 
Congress working under the Articles of Con¬ 
federation. 

The territory under this new plan of govern¬ 
ment covered the land now included in the 
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and 
Wisconsin. 

This famous document contained the follow¬ 
ing:— 

1. Foundation of the government for our ter¬ 
ritories. 

2. Prohibiting for all time negro slavery in the 
North West Territories. 

3. Gave religious freedom to all settlers in this 
region. 

4. Provided that schools and a system of educa- 
cation shall forever be encouraged. 

STUMBLING BLOCKS 

Altho the Revolution had been a cause for 
cementing the Thirteen Original Colonies to¬ 
gether while fighting a common enemy, peace 
conditions had allowed the several States to 
establish Local Workable Governments; these 
States became proud of their individuality, 
and no doubt a tinge of jealousy crept in; polit¬ 
ical differences in addition, soon upset the eco¬ 
nomical system. 




Constitution 


163 


Americanism 


New York and the State of Connecticut were 
at loggerheads over a tarrif issue, and Con¬ 
gress had no power to settle the dispute. Vir¬ 
ginia and Maryland were clamoring for su¬ 
premacy on the Potomac, and Shay's Rebel¬ 
lion, in 1786, made grave disturbances in Mass¬ 
achusetts. 


ALEXANDRIA MEETING 1785 

The country was fast drifting towards civil 
strife, but thru the efforts of Washington, 
Hamilton, Madison, Franklin and other far¬ 
sighted statesmen a way out was soon to be 
effected. 

The Maryland regulations of the Potomac 
did not please the Virginians, nor did the peo¬ 
ple of Maryland make amicably, the payments, 
which Virginia levied upon vessels passing the 
Capes of the Chesapeake, but in 1785 delegates 
from the two States met at Alexandria, in an 
attempt to settle the differences. 

This meeting resulted in calling a Conven¬ 
tion, at Annapolis, the next year, 1786, to 
which delegates from all the States were in¬ 
vited, to discuss the trade and commerce condi¬ 
tions of the States at large. 



Americanism 


164 


Constitution 


ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION 1786 

When this Convention opened only five 
States were represented, altho other delegates 
were on their way. Those present did not carry 
out the intended plans for which this Conven¬ 
tion was called, but passed a resolution calling 
for a Convention to amend the Articles of Con¬ 
federation, to be held in Philadelphia, in 1787. 

Six states, including Virginia and Pennsyl¬ 
vania, appointed delegates to this Convention 
before Congress had approved the plan; and 
all the States attended, except Rhode Island. 

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1787 

These were dangerous days for America, but 
it can be safely said that the ablest group of 
statesmen that ever assembled in America, 
were present at this Convention, which con¬ 
vened May 25, 1787, for it called forth such 
men as Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Mad¬ 
ison and other strong men of the time. 

Madison was only a young man when he was 
chosen along with Washington, Edmund Ran¬ 
dolph, and others, by Virginia, but he became 
a most outstanding figure during the proceed¬ 
ings of this famous Constitutional Convention, 
taking a leading part in the debates, and mak- 




Constitution 165 Americanism 



MASTER CRAFTSMEN 

These four, 1 Washington, 2 Madison, 3 Hamilton, 4 Franklin, were 
among the foremost statesmen in the formulating, drafting and ratify¬ 
ing of the Constitution of the United States of America. 








Americanism 


166 


Constitution 


ing full notes and records of the entire pro¬ 
ceedings day by day. Many years later these 
same notes were published by order of Con¬ 
gress, as Madison’s Journal, and it is from 
these records that the most authentic informa¬ 
tion regarding this Convention is secured. 

In Madison’s notes the name of Washington 
does not appear very often, for he was chosen 
as the President of the Convention, but like 
Franklin, the oldest and ablest of them all, 
exerted a great influence in smoothing away 
some of the grave differences, and their pres¬ 
ence was always an inspiration to other mem¬ 
bers. 

James Wilson, a great constitutional lawyer, 
was also a representative from Pennsylvania, 
together with Robert Morris, the financier of 
the Revolution, and Gouvernor Morris, who 
was largely responsible for the clear and simple 
language of the present Constitution. 

Delaware sent John Dickinson, chairman of 
the “grand committee,” which drafted the Art¬ 
icles of Confederation. 

Connecticut sent her old standby, Roger 
Sherman, who had served in nearly every Con¬ 
gress, also Oliver and William S. Johnson. 



Constitution 


167 


Americanism 


Four able men represented Massachusetts, 
Elbridge, Gerry, Caleb Strong, John Gorham, 
and Rufus King. 

New York sent Alexander Hamilton. Altho 
only 30 years old, Hamilton was one of the 
most brilliant thinkers and orators in this great 
assemblage. 

William Patterson was sent from New Jer¬ 
sey, and the two Pinkneys, and John Rutledge 
represented South Carolina. 

JEFFERSON IN PARIS 

Where were Jefferson, Adams, Patrick 
Henry, and other able men? This is a most 
likely question to ask. Jefferson was serving 
as Minister to France, and John Adams as 
Minister to England, while John Hancock, 
Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard 
Henry Lee did not favor such a Convention. 

Sixty-five names were sent to the Conven¬ 
tion as probable delegates, but only 55 at¬ 
tended, and 39 signed the Constitution. 

THE CONSTITUTION 136 YEARS OLD 

These, then, were the types of men that 
drafted the Constitution of the United States 
of America; a code of laws that has stood the 




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hard grinding test of 136 years; a Constitution 
that was drafted for a closer Federal Union of 
Thirteen States, yet had been planned in wis¬ 
dom enough to serve 48 States and more than 
100,000,000 people. 

WHAT LORD BRYCE SAYS 

Lord Bryce in his American Commonwealth 
says: 


“It was and remains what its authors styled 
it, eminently an instrument of compromises; it 
is perhaps the most successful instance in history 
of what a judicious spirit of compromise may 
effect.” 


INVOKE DIVINE BLESSING 

Bringing this Convention to a successful 
issue was very problematical, as Madison’s 
Notes show, for the first several weeks of the 
session, and at one time it looked as if the 
Southern States would withdraw altogether. 

Benj. Franklin, who was held in great re¬ 
spect not only by the people of his own State, 
but by all States, realizing that conflicting 
opinions and interests were setting the dele¬ 
gates at variance, addressed the Convention 
upon the advisability of opening each daily 




Constitution 


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session with prayer. He reminded the dele¬ 
gates of the trying times during the Revolu¬ 
tion; how they had invoked the aid and bless¬ 
ing of the Almighty, that they might be suc¬ 
cessful in their cause, and that God had 
answered their appeal. He spoke of the terrible 
hardships that Washington and his men had 
endured at Valley Forge, and related the inci¬ 
dent of Washington found kneeling behind the 
pine trees, at Valley Forge, praying for victory 
and relief. 


PRAYER OFFERED DAILY 

The result, of this effort on the part of this 
“grand old man,” for Franklin was now 82 
years of age, was, that, in the future each ses¬ 
sion was to open with prayer, and from this 
time on material progress was noted, and most 
especially was a spirit of compromise evident. 

There existed, however, keen opposition be¬ 
tween the smaller and larger States, and the 
cotton growing Southern States were ever 
alert to see that the commercial trading States 
of the North did not get any legislation passed 
that would in any way interfere with them in 
slave trading. 




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The public at large was divided into two 
factions; one favoring the ratification of the 
Constitution, and the other opposing. These 
groups were termed Federalists and Anti-Fed¬ 
eralists. 


THE GREAT COMPROMISE 

One of the earliest issues under discussion 
at this Convention was that of State repre¬ 
sentation in Congress. Randolph introduced 
what was called the Virginia Plan, moulded 
by Madison, and sanctioned by Washington. 
This plan called for a Legislative Body or 
Congress composed of two houses, and that 
representation to both should be determined 
by the population of each State. The plan 
also called for executive and judicial offices to 
be filled by Congress. 

Strenuous opposition was registered to this 
plan by the smaller States. Patterson, of New 
Jersey, introduced some of the most vital issues 
incorporated in the Constitution; such as giv¬ 
ing Congress power to regulate commerce, to 
raise revenue, and to coerce the States. This 
plan also called for support of the Confedera¬ 
tion law; that each State should have One 
Vote. 




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Pinckney, of South Carolina, brought for¬ 
ward a plan somewhat resembling that of the 
Virginia Plan, but the Convention turned its 
attention to the issues initiated by Virginia and 
New Jersey. 

COMPROMISE ON REPRESENTATIVES 

The adoption of the Virginia law brought 
friction in the Convention, but thru the wise 
intervention of Washington, Hamilton, Frank¬ 
lin, and Roger Sherman, a compromise was ef¬ 
fected, whereby there would be equal repre¬ 
sentation in the Senate, and the representation 
to the House of Representatives to be deter¬ 
mined as to population. 

The question of representation in the House, 
and direct taxes were now to be decided upon, 
and these issues caused another compromise, 
in which the representation and direct taxes 
should be allowed in the ratio as follows: 

“By adding to the whole number of free per¬ 
sons, including those bound to service for a 
term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, 
three-fifths of all other persons/' 

This was brought about owing to the fact 
that there was a large slave population in the 
South. 




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THE THIRD COMPROMISE 

Delegates from New England urged that 
Congress be given power to protect American 
interests against the competion of foreign ship¬ 
pers, and favored the imposing of heavy and 
discriminating duties, and navigation rights, 
etc. Southern delegates gave stout resistance 
to this plan, claiming that it would tend to pro¬ 
hibit slave trading. 

Rutledge, of South Carolina, made a vigor¬ 
ous protest, and went on record as saying, 

“that South Carolina would be a party to the new union 

only according to the outcome of this issue, in its effect 

upon South Carolina/’ 

The outcome of the matter was another 
compromise; Congress was given power to reg¬ 
ulate commerce, but slave trading was to con¬ 
tinue until 1808. 

ARTICLES MUST GO 

At this point of the Convention it was read¬ 
ily seen that the Articles of Confederation 
must go, and that a new Constitution should 
be prepared. This was agreed upon by the 
Convention, and on September 17, 1787, the 
Constitution of the United States of America, 
consisting of the Preamble and Seven Articles 
was adopted. 




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THREE GREAT DEPARTMENTS 

Bearing in mind the coercion and autocratic 
power exercised by the Governors, by British 
appointment, in old Colonial days, when the 
legislative, executive and judicial power was 
vested in these royal appointees, and that the 
British Parliament was all supreme, the Fram¬ 
ers of the Constitution were unanimous in 
forming a plan of government composed of 
three great departments: Legislative, Execu¬ 
tive, and Judicial, none of which should be 
supreme. 

These departments to act as a check and a 
balance upon each other, altho each having 
power to defend itself against any encroach¬ 
ments of the other two, and to operate separ¬ 
ately and effectively as follows: 

LEGISLATIVE—Law makers. 

EXECUTIVE—Law enforcement. 

JUDICIAL—Define laws, settle disputes, and 
punish law breakers. 

END OF CONFEDERATION CONGRESS 

When the Preamble and the Seven Articles 
had been drafted and adopted September 17, 
1787, the Convention was adjourned, and the 
draft sent to the Congress of the Confedera- 




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tion. This draft was then submitted to the 
several States for ratification. This was the 
last act of the Congress of Confederation, for it 
never met again. 

The Southern planters and the commercial 
men, together with the seacoast districts of the 
States, were fully in accord with ratifying the 
Constitution, but the Yankee farmers, and the 
back country districts were opposed to it. 

This opposition was evident, because they 
averred that the rights of citizens were not 
safeguarded, even tho the Federalists did re¬ 
mind them that the State Charters covered 
those rights. 

FEDERALISTS MAKE PROMISE 

A remedy was soon forthcoming, for the 
Federalists promised that a Bill of Rights 
should be added to the Constitution, in the 
form of an Amendment, as soon as the Union 
was formed. See introduction to Amendments. 

PREAMBLE AND THE SEVEN ARTICLES 

The Constitution of the United States of 
America adopted by the majority of the dele¬ 
gates to the Constitution Convention, Septem¬ 
ber 17, 1787, consisted of a Preamble, and 
Seven Articles. 




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The first three Articles deal with the three 
great departments of Our Government; the 
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial: 

Article I. LEGISLATIVE 
House of Representatives 
Senate 

Article II. EXECUTIVE 
President 

President’s Cabinet 

Article III. JUDICIAL 
Federal Judges 
Federal Courts 

Article IV. Relations of the State and Federal Govern¬ 
ments. 

Article V. Power and method of Amending the Consti- 
tion. 

Article VI. Public Debts; the Supreme law; oath of 
office; religious test prohibited. 

Article VII. Ratification and establishment of the 
Constitution. 




Americanism 


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•llll— 


LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT 

CONGRESS 

SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

The Legislative Department of the United States 
Government is vested in Congress, which body is com¬ 
posed of the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

The business of both these bodies is to make the laws 
of Our Country. Congress holds its sessions in the City 
of Washington, D. C., the Capital of the United States 
of America. 

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

The members of the House of Representatives are 
elected by the people, who vote for their Representatives 
every two years, and the number of Representatives 
that a State has, depends upon the population of that 
State. 

A Representative must be at least 25 years old, and have 
been a citizen of the United States for seven years or more, 
and must reside in the State which he is to represent. 

A National Census is taken every 10 years to determine the 
population of each State. Each State is divided into as many 
Congressional Districts as it has Representatives; that means 
that one Representative is elected from each district. Each 
State, no matter how small, is entitled to at least one Repre¬ 
sentative. 

Election Day is held on the Tuesday after the first Monday 
in November, in the even years, as 1922, 1924, etc. 

Representatives take office on March 4 of the odd year after 
they are elected and continue to hold office until March 4, 
of the next odd year. Vacancies are filled by special election 
under order of the Governor of the State. The Representa¬ 
tives choose their own officers, and their presiding officer is 
called the Speaker of the House. 




Constitution Ml Americanism 

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Here 435 Representatives from 48 States legislate for the common good. 
The members choose their own presiding officer, called the Speaker 
of the House. Together with the Senate they make the Laws of Our 

Country. 









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Constitution 


The following list shows the number of Representatives 


elected to Congress by each : 

state at this time (1923). The 

total number being 435. 




Alabama _ 

.....10 

Nebraska _.... 

_ 6 

Arizona 

1 

Nevada _ 

. .. 1 

Arkansas 

..... 7 

New Hampshire .... 

_ 2 

California . 

11 

New Jersey _ 

_12 

Colorado _ 

.. 4 

New Mexico 

... 1 

Connecticut _ 

..... 5 

New York _ 

_43 

Delaware _ 

.... 1 

North Carolina_ 

_10 

Florida _ 

..... 4 

North Dakota_ 

_ 3 

Georgia - 

12 

Ohio _ 

22 

Idaho _ 

2 

Oklahoma 

8 

Illinois 

27 

Oregon_ 

3 

Indiana 

13 

Pennsvlvania 

..36 

Iowa 

.....11 

Rhode Island 

3 

Kansas 

8 

South Carolina 

7 

Kentucky 

_11 

South Dakota 

3 

Louisiana _ 

..... 8 

Tennessee _ 

_10 

Maine 

..... 4 

Texas _ _ 

_18 

Maryland _ 

6 

Utah _ 

. . 2 

Massachusetts _ 

_16 

Vermont _ 

.. . 2 

Michigan_ 

_ 13 

Virginia _ 

_ 10 

Minnesota 

10 

Washington 

5 

Mississippi _ 

..... 8 

West Virginia 

6 

Missouri _ 

__ 16 

Wisconsin 

11 

Montana_ 

..... 2 

Wyoming _ 

_ 1 


THE SENATE 

1 he Senate of the United States is composed of two 
Senators from each State, who are elected by the vote 
of the people of the several States, holding office for 
the term of six years. Their terms are so arranged that 
one-third of them go out of office every two years. 
Thus it will be seen that two-thirds of the Senators 
will always be men experienced in Senate business. 

Senators must be at least 30 years old, and must have been 
citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and must 
reside in the State which elects them. 
































































Constitution 


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A mericanism 


VICE PRESIDENT PRESIDING OFFICER 

The Vice President of the United States is the Presi¬ 
dent of the Senate, but has no vote, except in case of a 
tie. Other officers of the Senate are elected by the 
members, who also elect one of their own number 
President pro tern, who presides in the absence of 
Vice President. 

MEETINGS OF CONGRESS 

The members of Congress meet at least once in every 
year, the first Monday in December. Every two years 
there is a new Congress. This is occasioned by the fact 
that the States elect their Representatives every two 
years, also every two years one-third of the Senators 
go out of office. 

The term of Congress is from March 4, of one odd year to 
March 4, of the next odd year, and during this term Congress 
has two regular sessions. It meets on the first Mpnday in 
December of the odd year, and may continue in session for a 
whole year. The second session begins on the first Monday in 
December of the even year, but must end by noon on March 
4, of the next year, on account of the elections again. The 
term of the new Congress begins as soon as the old one ends, 
but the members do not meet until the next December, unless 
a special session is called by the President of the United States. 

ELECTION DISPUTES 

In case of disputes about the election of a Representative or 
Senator, the power is vested in the Senate and the House of 
Representatives to decide who shall hold office, in their re¬ 
spective bodies. 

QUORUM 

No business can be done in Congress unless a majority of its 
members are present, and if there are not more than half of 
the members present absentees are sent for and compelled to 
come or suffer a penalty. 




Americanism 


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Constitution 


COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS 

As it is impossible for each member of Congress to famil¬ 
iarize himself with the entire business of Congress, many Com¬ 
mittees are formed to facilitate the work. There are a great 
many Committees in each House; dealing with Commerce, 
Agriculture, Revenue, Military and Naval affairs, etc. 

FREEDOM OF SPEECH 

Senators and Representatives have the right to say what 
they please and tell what they know about any matter of busi¬ 
ness that may come before Congress. This is their right under 
the Constitution, and lends courage in debate and speech. 

Congress can punish any member who is disorderly, but he 
can not be expelled unless two-thirds of the members vote 
against him. 


SALARIES 

The Salaries of Senators and Representatives are paid out of 
the Federal Treasury, and not by the States that send them 
to Congress. Both Senators and Representatives receive $7,500 
a year, as well as their traveling expenses, to and from Wash- 
The Speaker of the House of Representatives receives 
$12,000 a year. 


HOW LAWS ARE MADE 

Either the Senate or the House may commence the 
process for a new Law. This is termed, “Introducing a 
Bill.” When the Bill is introduced in the House a writ¬ 
ten copy is submitted, and the Speaker of the House 
orders the Bill to be printed and sent to the Committee 
in charge of the particular kind of Legislation. The 
Committee examines it and tells the House whether it 
would be desirable as a Law or not. If they deem it 
advisable the Bill is read aloud to the House, twice, 
usually on different days. The House can vote to change 




Constitution 181 Americanism 

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SENATE CHAMBER 

Here sit two Senators from each of the 48 States. This body, together 
with the House of Representatives, constitute Congress. The Vice 
President of the United States is the presiding officer. 






Americanism 


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Constitution 


any part of it, and this is called “Amending a Bill.” 
If there are any amendments the Bill is printed again, 
which is called “Engrossing It.” The clerk then reads 
it the third and last time, and then Speaker asks the 
members to vote upon it. If a majority vote for it the 
Bill passes the House. 

ON TO SENATE 

The Bill is then sent to the Senate where it goes thru 
the same process. If the Bill is passed by the Senate it 
is returned to the House, and “Enrolled,” which means, 
that it is printed on sheepskin, called parchment. The 
Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate 
both sign it, and it is then sent to the President of the 
United States. If he approves it he signs his name to 
the Bill, which makes'it an Act or Law. Then the parch¬ 
ment goes to the Secretary of State, who puts it away 
for safe keeping. 

No matter whether a Bill is introduced by the Senate 
or House it must be passed by both Houses before it 
becomes a Law. 


THE ONE EXCEPTION 

All Bills for raising money must be first introduced 
in the House of Representatives, but all other Bills 
may be introduced in either House. 

No Bill can become a Law unless passed by the 
majority vote of both Houses of Congress and signed 
by the President, except a Bill is passed over the Presi¬ 
dent’s Veto or a Bill kept 10 days by the President 
without signature, when it becomes a Law automatic¬ 
ally. 



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THE PRESIDENT'S VETO 

If the President Vetos a Bill this means that he dis¬ 
approves of it and sends it back to the House or Senate 
wtih a message giving his reasons why he thinks the 
Bill ought not to be a Law. 

By a Vote of two-thirds of the members of each 
House of Congress this Bill may become a Law over the 
President's Veto. 

TEN DAYS FOR VETOING BILLS 

Under the Constitution the President has 10 days 
after he receives a Bill to determine whether he will 
sign it or not. 


POWERS OF CONGRESS 

The following are some of the things that Congress 
can do under the Constitution: 

1. To lay and collect taxes from the people. Except in the 
income tax this is not often done directly unless there is a war 
or some special need for large sums of money. 

2. To put a duty or tax on goods brought to the United 
States from other countries. This is called an indirect tax. 
Duties are collected at the custom houses when the goods are 
brought to the United States. The Government receives a 
great deal of money from this indirect tax. 

3. To put a tax on tobacco, cigars, and other things made . 
for sale in the United States. Such a tax is called an excise tax. 

4. To borrow money on the credit of the United States to 
defray the expenses of the Government. Congress exercised 
this power during the recent World War by issuing Liberty 
Bonds. 

5. To make rules for trading between people who live in the 
United States and people who live in other countries: also for 
trading between people who live in one state and those who 
live in another state of the United States. 





184 


Constitution 


Americanism 


6. To make laws concerning immigration. 

7. To make naturalization laws. These laws tell how men 
and women who have come from other countries to live in the 
United States can be made citizens of this country and have 
the rights and privileges that Americans have. 

8. To make rules for the coining of money. The Federal 
Government alone has the right to make gold and silver or 
other metals into money. Congress makes laws to punish any 
one who tries to coin money for himself. Such a person is 
called a counterfeiter. 

9. To make laws for managing post offices and for carrying 
the mails. Most of the money to pay the expenses of this work 
is obtained by selling postage stamps. 

10. To issue patents and copyrights to inventors and authors. 

11. To declare war on any other country. When this is done, 
Congress also makes rules for getting soldiers to carry on the 
war and for taking care of them while the war lasts. 

12. To make new states and to tell them on what terms 
they may join the Union. 

Read the Constitution. 

WHAT CONGRESS CANNOT DO 

The Constitution forbids the following: 

1. Congress cannot pass any law establishing any religion, 
neither can it forbid free worship, freedom of speech, or free¬ 
dom of the press. 

2. Congress cannot make an ex post facto law. This means 
that Congress cannot make a law to punish a man for what 
he did before the law was passed. Everybody has a right to 
know what the laws are, and the people cannot know before¬ 
hand what laws Congress is going to pass. Hence, it would be 
very wrong to punish people for what they do unless there is 
a law against it at the time they do it. 

3. Congress cannot put a tax on goods sent from one state 
into another state for sale there. 

4. The writ of Habeas Corpus cannot be suspended by Con¬ 
gress except in time of war. Meaning that a man arrested for 





Constitution 


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a crime cannot be held in jail for a long time without being 
brought before a judge. Unless the complaint is very serious 
the judge must issue an order for his release from custody, 
but this does not prevent him from being tried before a judge, 
or judge and jury. 

CANNOT ACCEPT GIFTS 

According to the Constitution no citizen holding a 
United States Government office can accept a gift or 
title of any kind from any ruler of a foreign country. 

SESSIONS PUBLIC 

The sessions of both the House of Representatives 
and the Senate are open to the public. Large galleries 
are provided for the American general public and visi¬ 
tors. 


Read the Constitution. 





Americanism 


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Constitution 


EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT'S CABINET 

The Executive Department of the United States con¬ 
sists of the President of the United States, his Cabinet, 
and other officers, who are appointed to see that the 
Laws of Our Country are obeyed. 

The President is the Chief Executive of the Nation, 
and he selects a number of assistants to advise him, 
called his Cabinet. 

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT 

To see that the Laws made by Congress are enforced. 

Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. 

Can pardon prisoners. 

Appoints men to make treaties with other countries. No 
treaty can become Law unless approved by two-thirds of the 
Senate. 

Appoints Ambassadors, Ministers, and Consuls to represent 
the United States in Foreign countries. 

Appoints the Judges of the Supreme Court, and nearly 
every important United States officer. 

The Senate must approve his selections. 

Represents the United States, in its relations with other 
countries. 

Sends messages to Congress, at the beginning of every 
session, and whenever he thinks proper. In these messages 
information is given to Congress regarding the affairs of Our 
Country, and an outline of what kind of Laws he deems ought 
to be made. 


WHO MAY BE PRESIDENT 

The President of the United States must be a native born 
citizen of the United States of America. He must be at least 
35 years of age and must have lived in the United States for 
14 years. 




Constitution 


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Americanism 





FIRST INAUGURATION DAY 

The inauguration of George Washington, the first President of the 
United States of America. The beginning of the New Government, 
under the present Constitution, occurred on the first Wednesday of 
March, 1789. It happened to fall on the fourth day of the month, and 
so, since Washington’s Inauguration, every President has commenced' 
his term of office on March 4. 






Americanism 188 Constitution 


TERM OF OFFICE 

The President is elected for a term of four years and is 
elected by the people, thru electors, and may be re-elected. No 
President of the United States, however, has served more than 
two terms. 

If the President dies or is removed from office, or for some 
other reason cannot continue his duties as President, the Vice 
President assumes the Presidency. If in turn the Vice Presi¬ 
dent dies, or cannot continue his duties, the duties of Acting 
President are performed by the Secretary of State. In case of 
further vacancies the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of 
War, Attorney General, Post Master General, Secretary of 
Navy, Secretary of Interior, assumes the office in the order 
named. 


president's SALARY 

The President receives a salary of $75,000 a year, with a 
further allowance of $25,000 for traveling expenses, and has 
the use of the “White House/' which is owned and furnished 
by the Federal Government. 

The Vice President receives a salary of $12,000. 

INAUGURATION DAY 

On March 4, following his election the President of the 
United States is inaugurated, that is, he assumes the office of 
the Chief Executive of the Nation. This is known as Inaugu¬ 
ration Day and elaborate exercises are held on this day, at the 
Nation’s Capital, the City of Washington, D. C. 

OATH OF THE PRESIDENT 

Every President must take the following oath as required by 
the Constitution of the United States of America: 


“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully 
execute the office of President of the United States, and 
I will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and 
defend the Constitution of the United States.” 





Constitution 189 Americanism 

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UNITED STATES TREASURY BUILDING 
The first Secretary of the Treasury was Alexander Hamilton. Robert 
Morris furnished the money to carry on the Revolution, but it was to 
Alexander Hamilton that the people looked for methods of liquidating 
this debt. He established the first National bank. Hamilton met an 
untimely death at the hand of Burr as the result of a pistol duel. 








Americanism 


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Constitution 


The beginning of the New Government, under the present 
Constitution, occurred on the first Wednesday of March, 1789. 
It happened to fall on the fourth day of the month, and so, 
since Washington’s Inauguration, every President has com¬ 
menced his term of office on March 4. 

MEMBERS OF CABINET 

Ten men constitute the present President’s Cabinet. 
These members direct the affairs of the several Govern¬ 
ment Departments, and are directly responsible to the 
President. They meet in session at the White House, 
at the call of the President. The Cabinet acts in an ad¬ 
visory capacity to the President, but they have no dic¬ 
tatorial powers. The salary of each Cabinet member 
is |12,000. 


DUTIES OF CABINET MEMBERS 

Secretary of State: 

Head of Department of State. 

Transacts all business with foreign countries, and has 
charge of our diplomatic and consular service. 

Has in his keeping the original copies of all laws and 
treaties, of the United States. 

Considered the most important member of the Cabinet. 

Secretary of the Treasury. 

Head of the Department of the Treasury. 

Collector of all Federal Government taxes and revenues. 
General management of Nation’s money affairs. 

Gives orders for payment of all money voted by Congress. 
Makes up the Financial Budget; showing how much money 
is needed, and how much expended. 

Secretary of War: 

Head of the Department of War. 

In charge of the military affairs of the United States. 
Regulating of West Point, (U. S. Military Academy). 
Need not be a professional soldier. 



Constitution 


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Americanism 


Secretary of the Navy : 

Head of the Department of the Navy. 

In charge of the construction of war vessels, equipment 
and use. 

Need not be in the Naval service. 

Attorney General : 

Head of the Department of Justice. 

Advises the President on questions of law. 

Appears for the United States in legal suits before the 
United States Courts. 

Is the chief lawyer for the Federal Government. 

Postmaster General: 

Head of the Postoffice Department. 

Manages affairs of the post offices, and makes postal 
treaties with foreign countries. 

Secretary of the Interior : 

Head of the Department of the Interior. 

Charge of public lands and reclamation. 

Collects information about mining and education, pension 
and patent business, and Indian affairs. 

Secretary of Agriculture : 

Head of the Department of Agriculture, a very important 
and interesting department. 

Conducted under the Bureau System largely. 

Collects and publishes data on agriculture. Most of its 
publications can be had free of charge. 

Operates the United States Weather Bureau. 

Issues reports daily on weather conditions. 

In charge of Bureau of Animal Industry. 

Investigates and stamps out diseases of domestic animals. 
Most of the meat produced in the United States is under 
the inspection of this department. 

Issues information relative to dairy farming. 

Forest Service Bureau. Investigates and advises re the pro¬ 
tection of Our Country’s forests. 

Furnishes data relative to forestry matters free. 

In charge of Bureau of Chemistry. 





Americanism 


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Constitution 


Prevents the sale or transportation of impure, falsely 
labeled, poisonous or injurious foods, drugs and medi¬ 
cines from one state to another, or from other countries. 

Provides ways of preserving fruit juices, and of packing, 
shipping and handling poultry, eggs, fish, and other 
perishable food stuffs. 

Other Bureaus are engaged in studies of the soil, in all 
parts of the country, so that farmers may be informed 
how to increase the output of their lands. 

This Department works in harmony with the Departments 
of the several States relative to local agriculture also. 

Experts carefully study insect life, with respect to the de¬ 
struction of vegetation, animals and human life. 

The public is invited to make use of this great Department. 

Secretary of Commerce : 

Head of the Department of Commerce. 

Aims to promote the commercial, manufacturing, mining 
and transportation interests of Our Country. 

Takes the National Census. (Every 10 years.) 

Secretary of Labor : 

Head of the Department of Labor. 

Endeavors to foster and promote the welfare of the wage- 
earner; to improve working conditions; sanitation in in¬ 
dustrial and other places where men and women are em¬ 
ployed. 

In charge of the Bureau of Immigration. 

Bureau of Naturalization is also under the control of this 
Secretary. 

In charge of the Children’s Bureau, which deals with the 
problems of child labor. 





Constitution 


193 


Americanism 


IMPEACHMENTS 

If the President or any other office holder in the Fed¬ 
eral Government fails to perform his duties; according 
to the Constitution, the House of Representatives may 
inquire into the complaint, and if this body decides 
that he must be removed from office they order that he 
be tried. This is called “Impeaching” the office holder. 
Members of Congress, themselves, cannot be impeached. 

The Senate tries the cases of any office holder im¬ 
peached by the House of Representatives. 

If the President of the United States is tried, the 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides at the 
trial. If two-thirds of the Senators, who try the case, 
vote against the offender he must loose his officee, and 
he may never hold office again as an official in the 
United States service. 



Americanism 


194 


Constitution 


_MII—1|||. 


-mi—mi— 



SUPREME COURT CHAMBER 

The highest tribunal in the United States. There is no appeal from 
decisions given out by this court. This court holds its sessions in 
Washington. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and eight 
Associate Justices. John Jay was the first Chief Justice, serving in 
Washington’s Cabinet. William H. Taft is the present Chief Justice. 



Constitution 


195 


Americanism 


JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 

FEDERAL JUDGES FEDERAL COURTS 

The Judicial Department of the United States Gov¬ 
ernment is divided into three classes of regular courts 
and two special courts. The Judges of these courts are 
appointed to office by the President of the United 
States, with the consent of the Senate. This appoint¬ 
ment means that they will continue in service on the 
judicial bench during their life time, in useful service. 


The Supreme Court: 

The highest court in the United States. 

Decisions are final and must be respected by all the people 
residing in the United States. 

Decides, in case of dispute, the meaning of Laws passed by 
Congress. 

Decides the right of a particular Law passed by Congress, 
and the Law becomes null and void and cannot be en¬ 
forced if this court so decides. 

Tries cases appealed from the courts of the several States. 

This court consists of a Chief Justice and eight associate 
justices. 


Circuit Court of Appeals: 

The United States is divided into nine judicial circuits or 
districts. 

One Justice of the Supreme Court holds court in each cir¬ 
cuit, and is assisted by five circuit judges. 

Hear cases appealed from the district courts. 

District Courts: 

Each circuit is divided into districts. 

A judge who presides in the district is appointed to preside 
over a district court. 





A mericanism 


196 


Constitution 


SPECIAL COURTS 

Court of Claims : 

As no citizen can bring suit against the Federal Govern¬ 
ment, but as citizens often have just claims against the 
United States which must in justice to the citizen be 
heard, Congress has established a special court, called 
the Court of Claims. This court consists of a Chief 
Justice and four other judges. This court sits for sev¬ 
eral months in the year, in the City of Washington, at 
the seat of the Capital. 

Court of Custom Appeals : 

Settles all disputes relative to Tarriff Laws, and the man¬ 
ner in which they are to be enforced. 

TRIAL BY JURY 

All persons charged with crime, except United States 
office holders who are impeached, as stated before, have 
a right to a speedy trial, by an impartial jury, in the 
state in which the alleged crime was perpertrated. 

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 

In addition to these Government Departments 

there are a number of very important independent 

Boards and Commissions. These include at the pres¬ 
ent time: 

The Interstate Commission, which controls the 
railroads. 

Federal Trade Commission. The business super¬ 
visor of the Nation. 

Federal Reserve Board. Operates and organizes 
the banking system. 

United States Shipping Board, which has charge 
of developing merchant marine. 




Constitution 


197 


Americanism 


United States Tariff Commission. Regulates the 
tariff. 

United States Civil Service. In charge of employ¬ 
ment of employees in the service of the United 
States Government. 

Other indpendent establishments include the 
Smithonian Institute, which has done remarkable 
research work under noted scientists regarding geo¬ 
logical and archeological investigations, etc. 

Then there is the Printing Bureau, the largest 
institution of its kind in the world. 





Americanism 


198 


Constitution 



RESUME OF AMENDMENTS 
N their broad wisdom, the “Fathers 
of the Constitution” foresaw that it 
would be folly to bind future genera¬ 
tions to the code of laws they were 
drafting, for social and political condi- 
ditions were ever changeable. So proper pro¬ 
vision was made, by the drafting and placing 
of the Article V in the Constitution, which sets 
forth the powers and method for Amendments. 

Both the group that favored, and the group 
that opposed the ratification of the Constitu¬ 
tion knew that the Constitution had to be 
amended, in order that the fulfillment of the 
promise made by the Federalists, that a Bill 
of Rights, relating to the personal rights of 
cititzens would be added, after the Union was 
formed. 

BILL OF RIGHTS 


Ten Original Amendments : 

In fulfillment of the promise given by the Feder¬ 
alists, that the rights of citizens should be safe¬ 
guarded, under the Federal code, a Bill of Rights 
was framed, and as per Article V of the Constitu¬ 
tion, giving power to the several States to amend the 
Constitution, it was added to the Constitution, De- 
cem/^r 15, 1791. This draft was made in the form 
of Ten Articles, and constituted the first Ten 
Amendments. 






Constitution 


199 


Americanism 


GREAT POWER OF RIGHTS 

The Declaration of Independence says, “all men 
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalien¬ 
able rights/' and if any American wishes to know 
what great power of rights he has, under the Con¬ 
stitution, let him read carefully the first Nine 
Amendments. 

READ THE CONSTITUTION 

There is nothing more potent in promise, in the 
Constitution, than these, which deal with the per¬ 
sonal rights, privileges, and immunities of Our Citi¬ 
zens. 

There were no new powers granted the States indi¬ 
vidually, in the Constitution as adopted in 1787; in 
fact, powers were taken away, and vested in the new 
Central Government. Therefore, in lieu of this, the 
Tenth Amendment reads, 

“the powers not delegated to the United 
States by the Constitution, nor prohibited 
by it to the States are reserved to the States 
respectively, or to the people.” 

JUDICIAL POWERS CONSTRUED 

Eleventh Amendment : 

The Eleventh Amendment prohibits a citizen 
from taking legal action against a State in the Fed¬ 
eral court, and its outcome arose from many 
differences that arose between the Nation and the 
State. It was passed in 1798. 




Americanism 


200 


Constitution 


CHOOSING PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT 

Twelfth Amendment : 

A stirring and eventful presidential election was 
responsible for this Amendment; in which both 
Thomas Jefferson, and Aaron Burr were elected to 
the office of Chief Magistrate of Our Country. 

The Federalists nominated President Adams for 
a second term, and C. C. Pinckney, of South Caro¬ 
lina, for Vice President, and the Republicans (now 
termed Democrats) choose Jefferson for their can¬ 
didate, as President, and Burr, of New York, for 
Vice President. 

Some political differences and intrigue had arisen, 
and when the votes were counted Jefferson and Burr 
both received 73 votes for President. Adams, 65, 
and Pinckney 64, and Jay had one supporter. There 
had been a quarrel between Adams and Hamilton, 
otherwise the election would have gone to the Fed¬ 
eralists, some writers aver. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECIDES 

The matter of decision went to the House of Repre¬ 
sentatives, which body voted; ten States for Jefferson, 
four for Burr, and two voted blank, after six days of 
balloting. 

This gave Jefferson the Presidency, and the office of 
Vice President to Burr. 

The Twelfth Amendment was added to obviate this 
embarrassing condition. It stipulates that the electors 
shall designate the name of the candidate they wish for 
President, and also the name of the candidate they wish 
for Vice President, on separate and distinct ballots. 



Constitution 


201 


Americanism 


Under the old way of voting, it was possible not only 
to have a President and a Vice President of opposing 
parties, but also for the two candidates of the same 
party to receive the same number of votes. This is what 
happened in the Jefferson-Burr affair, both Republi¬ 
cans, and the result of the election was a tie as shown 
above. 

The previous method gave the Presidency to the 
candidate receiving the highest number of votes, and 
the Vice Presidency fell to the candidate receiving the 
next highest number. The House of Representatives is 
given the power to exercise the same right as it did in 
the Jefferson-Burr election, in case of a dispute. 

PARTY POLITICS SIMPLIFIES 

Owing to the present system of strict party line poli¬ 
tics, when a Republican President is elected, for in¬ 
stance, it naturally follows that a Republican Vice 
President will also be elected, since the electors will, 
in support of their party give their vote to both the 
candidates for President and Vice President, selected by 
their party. 

ABSOLUTE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY 

The next three Amendments are an aftermath of the 
Civil War, and deal specifically with the Abolition of 
Slavery. Legal suits and military coercion entered as 
large factors on account of these three amendments: 

In Lord Bryce’s American Commonwealth he says: 

“But tho military coercion influenced the adop¬ 
tion of the Thirteenth Amendment while po¬ 
litical coercion bore a large part in securing the 





Americanism 


202 


Constitution 


adoption of the others it must be remembered 
that some changes in the Constitution were an 
absolutely necessary corollary to the war that 
had just ended.” 

“The effect of these three amendments was fully 
considered by the Supreme Court (in 1872) in 
the so-called Slaughter House Cases.” 

Thirteenth Amendment : 

This Amendment absolutely abolished slavery in 
the United States of America, or any place subject 
to its jurisdiction, and finished the work initiated by 
Lincoln, set forth in his Proclamation of Emancipa¬ 
tion. 

It was ratified December 18, 1865. Delaware and 
Kentucky failed to ratify it, and Mississippi and 
Alabama ratified it under conditions. Texas took 
no action. 

NO ABRIDGEMENT OF CITIZEN^ RIGHTS 

Fourteenth Amendment : 

The Fourteenth Amendment was popularly 
known as the Reconstruction Amendment, coming 
just after the Civil War, and in the period when the 
Southern States were readjusting themselves with re¬ 
spect to rejoining the Federal Union. 

It deals with the admittance of seceded states. It 
excludes from office the leading Confederate Offic¬ 
ers, and made impossible the payment of the Con¬ 
federate debts. It sets forth the Rights of Citizen¬ 
ship; that is, the right of citizens shall not be 
abridged in any way; having particular reference, 
of course, to the negro. 



Constitution 


203 


Americanism 


This .Amendment was ratified July 28, 1868. 
Twenty-three Northern States ratified this Amend¬ 
ment. It was rejected by Delaware, Kentucky, 
Maryland, and 10 Southern States, but subsequently 
the 10 Southern States agreed, and California took 
no action. 

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WHITE AND NEGRO 

Fifteenth Amendment : 

Under the Fifteenth Amendment the negro was. 
given greater protection, for it declares that the right 
to vote shall never be taken away from any citizen, 
“on account of race, color or previous condition of 
servitude.” 

Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas were 
compelled to ratify this Amendment before being 
fully restored to their former status in the Federal 
Union. Tennessee took no action. It was rejected 
by California, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and 
Oregon. Ratified by the remaining 30 states. New 
York rescinded its ratification January 5, 1870. New 
Jersey rejected it in 1870, but ratified it in 1871. 

FAMOUS FORCE BILL 

The famous “Force Bill,” providing fines and im¬ 
prisonment for anyone, who endeavored to prevent 
the negro from casting his vote, was an additional 
effort on the part of Congress to protect the freed- 
men in the use of his newly acquired rights. This 
enactment was put into force about the same time 
as the Fifteenth Amendment, which was ratified 
March 30, 1870. 


Americanism 204 Constitution 


FEDERAL INCOME TAX 

Sixteenth Amendment : 

It was 43 years before another Amendment was 
ratified, and this was the Sixteenth Amendment, 
imposing a Federal Income Tax. This tax is im¬ 
posed upon, and collectable upon, all incomes of 
11000 or more annually, from an unmarried person, 
or more than $2500 earned by a married man, liv¬ 
ing with his wife, or a married woman living with 
her husband, whose total income is less than $5000. 
For those married persons with larger incomes the 
exemption is only $2000. Persons having children 
or some other dependents to support are exempt 
from tax on $400 additional income for each de¬ 
pendent. 

This amendment was ratified February 25, 1913. 
The following States failed to ratify it: Connecti¬ 
cut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and 
Virginia. 

ELECT SENATORS BY DIRECT VOTE 

Seventeenth Amendment : 

This Amendment was proposed in May during 
1912, and calls for the election of United States 
Senators by the direct vote of the people, and was 
ratified May 13, 1913. 

Before this Amendment was passed Senators were 
sent to the Federal Congress by the State Legisla¬ 
tures. 




Constitution 


205 


Americanism 


The following States voted negative: Alabama, 
Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Maryland, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Caro¬ 
lina, Utah, and Virginia. 

NATION WIDE PROHIBITION 

Eighteenth Amendment : 

Every American is cognizant of the controversy 
on, the ratification of, and the great advantages 
that accrued from the passing of the Eighteenth 
Amendment. 

Among all the agencies at work to destroy the 
drink traffic, none has had such an influence in 
bringing to the public notice the evils thereof, as 
the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. 

W. C. T. U. FOUNDED IN 1874 

This organization was founded in 1874, and has be¬ 
come the most formidable women’s organization in 
America. Its scope is nation wide, and thru the distri¬ 
bution of literature, thru lectures, local organizations, 
and the teaching of laws of health, with special refer¬ 
ence to the effect of stimulants and narcotics upon the 
human body, this noble band of women has proved 
itself a mighty power. 

This Amendment, with which all are familiar, when 
it passed, came somewhat as a surprise, for there was 
great concern among the prohibition workers, with re¬ 
gard to the way the large centers, such as New York, 
Chicago, St. Louis, etc., would vote. It proved, the 
passing of this important issue, what a great National 



Americanism 


206 


Constitution 


Force women were becoming, for it was thru the W. 
C. T. U., the Y. W. C. A., and other women's organiza¬ 
tions that this Amendment was carried to a successful 
issue. 


BREWERS AND DISTILLERS FAIL 

Several influential brewers and distillers, the States 
of Rhode Island and New Jersey, took action in the 
courts to test the validity of this Amendment, but the 
Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Prohibitionists, 
early in January, 1920. 

The 65th Congress, December 18, 1917, sent this 
Amendment to the several States for ratification. On 
September 29, 1919, the Secretary of State declared its 
adoption, as ratified by 36 States, and it went into force 
January 16, 1920. 

The Eighteenth Amendment prohibits the manu¬ 
facture and sale, or transportation of intoxicating 
liquors. 





Constitution 207 Americanism 

nil—1111—HH^— iin—.1111—mi—im_ iiii_im—mi—mi-....-....-....-....-„„-„„ (||| 


HOW STATES RATIFIED 

The several states ratified the National Prohibition 
Amendment in the following order: 


1918 


1. 

Mississippi _ 

.Jan. 

8 

2. 

Virginia _ 

Jan 

10 

3. 

Kentucky _ 

Jan. 

14 

4. 

S. Carolina ___ 

Jan. 

23 

5. 

N. Dakota _ _ . 

Jan. 

25 

6. 

Maryland _ 

Feb. 

13 

7. 

Montana ___ 

Feb. 

19 

8. 

Texas __ 

Mar. 

4 

9. 

Delaware _ - 

Mar. 

18 

10. 

S. Dakota _ 

Mar. 

20 

11. 

Massachusetts,._ 

April 

2 

12. 

Arizona „ _ 

. May 

22 

13. 

Georgia _ 

July 

22 

14. 

Louisiana .. 

Aug. 

3 

15. 

Florida _ 

Dec. 

14 


1919 



16. 

Michigan .. _ 

Jan. 

2 

17. 

Oklahoma _ 

Jan. 

7 

18. 

Ohio _ 

Jan. 

7 

19. 

Tennessee - 

Jan. 

8 

20. 

Idaho - 

Jan. 

8 

21. 

Maine - — 

Jan. 

8 

22. 

West Virginia_ 

Jan. 

9 


23. Washington _ Jan. 13 

24. California _ Jan. 13 

25. Arkansas _ Jan. 14 

26. Illinois _ Jan. 14 

27. Indiana _ Jan. 14 

28. Kansas _ Jan. 14 

29. N. Carolina _ Jan. 14 

30. Alabama _ Jan. 14 

31. Iowa _ Jan. 15 

32. Colorado _Jan. 15 

33. Oregon _ Jan. 15 

34. N. Hampshire_Jan. 15 

35. Utah __ Jan. 15 

36. Nebraska _ Jan. 16 

37. Missouri _ Jan. 16 

38. Wyoming _ Jan. 16 

39. Minnesota . Jan. 17 

40. Wisconsin - Jan. 17 

41. N. Mexico -»- Jan. 20 

42. Nevada _ Jan. 21 

43. Vermont _ Jan. 29 

44. New York _ Jan. 29 

45. Pennsylvania _ Feb. 25 


WOMAN SUFFRAGE PASSES 

Nineteenth Amendment : 

National wide suffrage for women was inevitable, 
for this issue had been demanding attention for 
many, many years. 

As early as the John Adams administration, 1797- 
1801, women were seeking the right to the franchise, 
and there is a story that goes with this assertion that 
no less a personage than Abrigial (Smith) Adams, 
wife of the President, wished to introduce a bill into 













































Americanism 


208 


Constitution 


Congress calling for the vote for women, but it was 
laughed out of the House of Representatives, and 
never reached the Senate. 

WOMEN'S CONVENTION 1848 

In 1848, Lucretia Mott called a convention to meet 
in Seneca Falls, New York, to discuss the franchise for 
women, and to plan local organizations to forward such 
plans. Since this early convention the movement gath¬ 
ered tremendous impetus. In 1912 the power of women 
was recognized as a strong National Force, and the 
Progressive Party included women suffrage in its Presi¬ 
dential platform. Roosevelt was the Progressive can¬ 
didate. 

A resolution, drawn up by Susan B. Anthony, was 
sent to Congress calling for women’s suffrage in 1917, 
which was passed by the House of Representatives 
January, 1918, but the Senate refused to concur in the 
matter. 


ANTHONY RESOLUTION FINDS FAVOR 

The Susan B. Anthony resolution was again sub¬ 
mitted to Congress. The House of Representatives 
passed it on May 21, 1919, and the Senate adopted it 
June 4, 1919. The Amendment was then submitted to 
the several States, and it was ratified, and became part 
of the Constitution of the United States of America 
August 26, 1920. 

IMPORTANT FACTORS 

Among the important factors that entered into the 
passing of this Amendment were the hundreds of 





Constitution " 209 Americanism 


women’s suffrage organizations, of which the National 
American Woman Suffrage Association, presided over 
at the time by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, and the New 
York State Woman Suffrage Party, of which Mrs. Ray¬ 
mond Brown was the president. Mrs. Brown is the 
author of “Your Vote and How to Use It.” 

The influence that was brought to bear by the W. 
C. T. U., in the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment, 
was a very strong factor in persuading the Representa¬ 
tives in Congress that the time had come for Nation 
Wide Woman suffrage. 

The states ratified the Nineteenth Amendment in the 
following order: 


1919 

Illinois 

June 

10 

Maine _ 

North Dakota .... ... 

. Nov. 

_ Dec. 

5 

1 

Wisconsin _ 

June 

10 

South Dakota _ 

_ Dec. 

4 

Michigan ___ 

June 

10 

Colorado _ 

_Dec. 

12 

Kansas __ 

Ohio . ... 

June 

June 

16 

16 

1920 

Rhode Island _ 

_Jan. 

6 

New York 

June 

16 

Kentucky _ 

_Jan. 

6 

Pennsylvania 

June 

24 

Oregon _ 

. Jan. 

12 
i 6 

M assach i ] setts 

June 

25 

Indiana _ 

_Jan. 

Texas 

June 

28 

Wyoming ___ 

... Jan. 

28 

Iowa 

July 

July 

July 

July 

July 

2 

Nevada _ 

. Feb. 

7 

Missouri 

3 

New Jersey _ 

... Feb. 

9 

A rkansa.s 

28 

Idaho _ 

_Feb. 

11 

Montana 

30 

Arizona _ 

_Feb. 

12 

Nebraska __- 

31 

New Mexico _ 

....Feb. 

19 

Minnesota _ 

Sept. 

8 

Oklahoma _ 

_Feb. 

28 

New Hampshire 

Sept. 

Sept. 

10 

West Virginia _ 

_ Mar. 

10 

Utah .... _ 

30 

Washington _ 

_Mar. 

22 

California _ 

Nov. 

1 

Tennessee _ 

... Aug. 

18 


The Illinois Legislature ratified on June 10, 1919, but an error 
in the State’s certification caused a re-ratification on June 17. 
Ratification was defeated in Ala. (Sept. 2, 1919) ; Ga. (July 24, 

1919) Miss. (Jan. 21, 1920) ; S. C. (Jan. 24, 1920) ; Va. (Feb. 12. 

1920) ; Md. (Feb. 17, 1920) ; Del. (June 2, 1920) ; La. (June 15, 
1920) ; N. C. (Aug. 17, 1920). 

Tennessee rescinded its ratification August 31, 1920, by a 
vote of 47 to 24. 









































Americanism 210 Constitution 



INDEPENDENCE HALL 

The famous edifice, in Philadelphia, in which the Declaration of In¬ 
dependence was signed ; where Congress sat from 1778 until the close 
of the Revolution, and in which the present Constitution was framed. 




Constitution 


211 


Americanism 


CONSTITUTION 

of the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

PREAMBLE 

WE, THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to 
form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure 
domestic tranquility, provide for the common de¬ 
fense, promote the general welfare, and secure the 
blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, 
do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for 
the United States of America. 

ARTICLE I 

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT 

Congress; Its Divsions and Powers: 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be 
vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall con¬ 
sist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 

House of Representatives: 

Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be com¬ 
posed of members chosen every second year by the people 
of the several States, and the electors in each State shall 
have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most 
numerous branch of the State Legislature. 

Qualifications of Representatives: 

No person shall be a Representative who shall not have 
attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven 
years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, 
when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he 
shall be chosen. 

Appointment of Representatives: 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned 
among the several States which may be included within 





Americanism 212 Constitution 


this union, according to their respective numbers, which 
shall be determined by adding to the whole number of 
free persons, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths 
of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be 
made within three years after the first meeting of the Con¬ 
gress of the United States, and within every subsequent 
term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law ' 
direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed 
one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have 
at least one Representative; and until such enumeration 
shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be en¬ 
titled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island 
and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New 
York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware 
one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five. 
South Carolina five, and Georgia three. See 14th Amend¬ 
ment. 

Vacancies: 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any 
State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of 
election to fill such vacancies. 

Officers; How Appointed: 

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker 
and other officers, and shall have the sole power of im¬ 
peachment. 

Senate: 

Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be 
composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the 
Legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall 
have one vote. 

Classification of Senators: 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence 
of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as 
may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of 
the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the sec¬ 
ond year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth 
year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth 
year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; 
and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, dur- 




Constitution 


213 


Americanism 


ing the recess of the Legislature of any State, the Execu¬ 
tive thereof may make temporary appointments until the 
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such 
vacancies. 

Qualification of Senators : 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have at¬ 
tained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a 
citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when 
elected, be an inhabitant of that State from which he shall 
be chosen. 

President of the Senate : 

The Vice President of the United States shall be Presi¬ 
dent of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they 
be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a 
President pro tempore, in the absense of the Vice Presi¬ 
dent, or when he shall exercise the office of President of 
the United States. 

Senate; a Court for Trial of Impeachment : 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all im¬ 
peachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall 
be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the 
United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and 
no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of 
two-thirds of the members present. 

Judgment in Case of Conviction'. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend 
further than to removal from office, and disqualification 
to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under 
the United States; but the party convicted shall neverthe¬ 
less be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment 
and punishment, according to law. 

Election of Senators and Representatives : 

Section 4. The times, places and manner of holding 
elections for Senators and Representatives shall be pre¬ 
scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the 
Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regu¬ 
lations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 





Americanism 


214 


Constitution 


Meeting of Congress: 

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, 
and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in De¬ 
cember, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. 

Organisation of Congress'. 

Section 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elec¬ 
tions, returns and qualifications of its own members, and 
a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do busi¬ 
ness; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, 
and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent 
members, in such manner, and under such penalties as 
each House may provide. 

Rule of Proceeding ; 

Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, 
punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the 
concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. 

Journal of Congress: 

Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and 
from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts 
as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas 
and nays of the members of either House on any question 
shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be en¬ 
tered on the Journal. 

Adjournment of Congress: 

Neither House, during the session of Congress, shall, 
without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
three days, nor to any other place than that in which the 
two Houses shall be sitting. 

Pay and Privileges of Members: 

Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall re¬ 
ceive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained 
by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United 
States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and 
in going to and returning from the same; and for any 
speech or debate in either House, they shall not be ques¬ 
tioned in any other place. 






Constitution 


215 


Americanism 


Plurality of Officers Prohibited: 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for 
which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under 
the authority of the United States, which shall have been 
created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been in¬ 
creased during such time; and no person holding any office 
under the United States shall be a member of either House 
during his continuance in office. 

Revenue Bills: 

Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in 
the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose 
or concur with amendments as on other bills. 


How Bills Become Laws: 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Rep¬ 
resentatives and the Senate shall, before it becomes a law, 
be presented to the President of the United States, if he 
approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it with 
his objections to that House in which it shall have origi¬ 
nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their 
journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such re¬ 
consideration two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass 
the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to 
the other House, by which it shall likwise be reconsidered, 
and if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall be¬ 
come a law. But in all such cases the votes of both 
Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the 
names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall 
be entered on the journal of each House respectively. It 
any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten 
davs (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented 
to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he 
had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment 
prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Approval and Veto Powers Vested In President: 

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concur¬ 
rence of the Senate and House of Representatives may 
be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall 
be presented to the President of the United States, and 
before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by 






Americanism 


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him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by 
two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the 
case of a bill. 

Powers Vested In Congress : 

Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and 
collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts 
and provide for the common defense and general welfare 
of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises 
shall be uniform throughout the United States: 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among 
the several States, and with the Indian tribes; 

To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and 
uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout 
the United States; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of for¬ 
eign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the 
securities and current coin of the United States; 

To establish post offices and post roads; 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by 
securing for limited times to authors and inventors the 
exclusive right to their respective writings and dis¬ 
coveries; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed 
on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, 
and make rules concerning captures on land and water; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of 
money to that use shall be for a longer term than two 
years; 

Powers re Army and Navy : 

To provide and maintain a navy; 

To make rules for the government and regulation of 
the land and naval forces; 






Constitution 


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To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the 
laws of the union, suppress insurrections and expel in¬ 
vasions; 

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the 
militia, and for governing such part of them as may be 
employed in the service of the United States, reserving 
to the States respectively, the appointment of the officers, 
and the authority of training the militia according to 
the discipline prescribed by Congress; 

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatso¬ 
ever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) 
as may, by cession of particular States, and the accept¬ 
ance of Congress, become the seat ot the government 
of the United States, and to exercise like authority over 
all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of 
the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of 
forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful 
buildings; and. 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper 
for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all 
other powers vested by this Constitution in the Gov¬ 
ernment of the United States, or in any department or 
officer thereof. 

Immigrants; How Admitted : 

Section 9. The migration or importation of such per¬ 
sons as any of the States now existing shall think proper 
to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior 
to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a 
tax or duty mav be imposed on such importation, not 
exceeding ten dollars for each person. 

Habeas Corpus : 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be 
suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion 
the nublic safety may require it. 

Attainder: 

No bill of attainder or ex oost facto law shall be passed. 





Americanism 


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Direct Taxes: 

No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless 
in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before 
directed to be taken. 

Regulations Regarding Duties: 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from 
any State. 

No State Preference: 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of com¬ 
merce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of 
another: nor shall vessels bound to, or from, one State 
be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

Money; How Drawn: 

No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in con¬ 
sequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular 
statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of 
all public money shall be published from time to time. 

Titles of Nobility Prohibited: 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United 
States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust 
under them shall, without the consent of Congress, accept 
of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind 
whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 

Powers of States Defined: 

Section 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alli¬ 
ance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and re¬ 
prisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing 
but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; 
pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law im¬ 
pairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of 
nobility. 

No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, 
lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except 
what may be absolutely necessary for executing its in¬ 
spection laws; and the net produce of all duties and im¬ 
posts, laid by any State on imports or exports, shall be 




Constitution 


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for the use of the Treasury of the United States; and all 
such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of 
the Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any 
duty of tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of 
peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another 
State or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless 
actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not 
admit of delay. 


ARTICLE II 

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 

Executive Power; In Whom Vested". 

Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a 
President of the United States of America. He shall Imld 
his office during the term of four years, and, together with 
the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, 
as follows: 

Electors: 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legis¬ 
lature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to 
the whole number of Senators and Representatives to 
which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no 
Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of 
trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed 
an elector. 

Proceedings of Electors and House of Representatives : 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and 
vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall 
not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves. 
And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, 
and of the number of votes for each; which list they shall 
sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of gov¬ 
ernment of the United States, directed to the President of 
the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the 
presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open 
all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. 
The person having the greatest number of votes shall be 




Americanism 


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the President, if such number be a majority of the whole 
number of electors appointed; and if there be more than 
one who have such majority, and have an equal number 
of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immedi¬ 
ately choose by ballot one of them for President; and if 
no person have a majority, then from the five highest on 
the list the said House shall in like manner choose the 
President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall 
be taken by States, the representation from each State 
having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist 
of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, 
and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a 
choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, 
the person having the greatest number of votes of the 
electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should 
remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate 
shall choose from them by ballot the Vice President. See 
12th Amendment. 

Time of Choosing Electors : 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the 
electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; 
which day shall be the same throughout the United States. 

Qualifications of the President : 

No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen 
of the United States at the time of the adoption of this 
Constitution, shall be elegible to the office of President; 
neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall 
not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been 
fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

Resort in Case of Disability: 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or 
of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the 
powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve 
on the Vice President, and the Congress may by law pro¬ 
vide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inabil¬ 
ity, both of the President and Vice President, declaring 
what officer shall then act as President, and such officer 
shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or 
a President shall be elected. 







Constitution 221 Americanism 

—MM—MM— Mil——Mil—MM—MM—MM—Mil—HM—MM—Mil—MN—MM—MM—HM—MM—MM—MM— 


Salary of President: 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his 
services a compensation, which shall neither be increased 
nor diminished during the period for which he shall have 
been elected, and he shall not receive within that period 
any other emolument from the United States, or any of 
them. 

Oath of Office: 

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall 
take the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly 
swear (or affirm) that i will faithfully execute the Office of 
President of the United States, and will to the best of my 
ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of 
the United States.” 

Duties of the President: 

Section 2. The President shall be commander-in-chief 
of the army and navy of the United States, and of the 
militia of the several States, when called into the actual 
service of the United States; he may require the opinion 
in writing of the principal officer in each of the executive 
departments upon any subject relating to the duties of 
their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant 
reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United 
States, except in cases of impeachment. 

Make Treaties, Appoint Judges, Ambassadors, etc.: 

He shall have power, by and with the the advice and 
consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two- 
thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nomi¬ 
nate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Sen¬ 
ate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and 
consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers 
of the United States whose appointments are not herein 
otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by 
law; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment 
of such inferior officers as they think proper in the Presi¬ 
dent alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of de¬ 
partments. 




Americanism 222 Constitution 

—mi— h,i—mm——• mi—— mi—mi—uii—mi—mi—mi—mi—mi—mi—mi—m«—— mii—mii—iim—iiii—hh— 


May Fill Vacanacies: 

The President shall have power to fill up all vacanacies 
that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by 
granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their 
next session. 

May Convene Congress: 

Section 3: He shall from time to time give to the Con¬ 
gress information of the state of the union, and recom¬ 
mend to their consideration such measures as he shall 
judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary 
occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in 
case of disagreement between them with respect to the 
time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time 
as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and 
other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be 
faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers 
of the United States. 

How Officers May Be Removed: 

Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil 
officers of the United States, shall be removed from office 
on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, 
or other crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III 

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 

Judicial Power; How Invested: 

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States 
shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior 
courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and 
establish. The judges, both of the Supreme Court and 
inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good be¬ 
havior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services 
a compensation which shall not be diminished during their 
continuance in office. 

To What Cases It Extends: 

Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, 
in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the 
laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which 



Constitution 


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shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affect¬ 
ing ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to 
all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to con¬ 
troversies to which the United States shall be a party; to 
controversies between two or more States; between a State 
and citizens of another State; between citizens of different 
States; between citizens of the same State claiming lands 
under grants of different States, and between a State, or 
the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects. 

Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court : 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public minis¬ 
ters and consuls, and those in which a State shall be party, 
the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In 
all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court 
shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, 
with such exceptions and under such regulations as the 
Congress shall make. 

Rules Respecting Trials: 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, 
shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the State 
where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when 
not committed within any State, the trial shall be at such 
place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. 

Treason Defined : 

Section 3. Treason against the United States shall con¬ 
sist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to 
their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person 
shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of 
two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in 
open court. 

How Punished : 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment 
of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corrup¬ 
tion of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the 
person attainted. 



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ARTICLE IV 

RELATIONS OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS 

Recognition of State Authority. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each 
State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings 
of every other State. And the Congress may by general 
laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and 
proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. 

Privilege of Citizens : 

Section 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled 
to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several 
States. 

Executive Requisitions: 

A person charged in any State with treason, felony, or 
other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in 
another State, shall on demand of the executive authority 
of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be re¬ 
moved to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. 

Law Regulating Service or Labor : 

No person held to service or labor in one State, under 
the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in conse¬ 
quence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged 
from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on 
claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be 
due. 

New States; How Formed and Admitted : 

Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress 
into this union; but no new State shall be formed or 
erected within the jurisdiction of any other State; nor any 
State be formed by the junction of two or more States, or 
parts of States, without the consent of the Legislatures of 
the States concerned as well as of the Congress. 

Power of Congress: 

n The f r OI JS ress sha11 have power to dispose of and make 
all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory 
or other property belonging to the United States; and 




Constitution 225 Americanism 


nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to 
prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any par¬ 
ticular State. 

Republican Government Guaranateed : 

Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every 
State in this union a republican form of government; and 
shall protect each of them against invasion; and on ap¬ 
plication of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when 
the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic vio¬ 
lence. 


ARTICLE V 

POWER AND METHOD OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall 
deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Con¬ 
stitution, or, on the application of the Legislatures of two- 
thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for 
proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid 
to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, 
when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the 
several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, 
as the one or the other mode of ratification may be pro¬ 
posed by the Congress; provided that no amendment 
which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight 
hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and 
fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and 
that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its 
equal suffrage in the Senate. 

ARTICLE VI 

public debts: the supreme law: oath of office: 

RELIGIOUS TEST PROHIBITED 

Validity of Debts Recognised : 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into, be¬ 
fore the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid 
against the United States under this Constitution, as under 
the Confederation. 



A mericanism 226 Constitution 


Supreme Law of the Land Defined : 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States 
which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties 
made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the 
United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and 
the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything 
in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary 
notwithstanding. 

Oath; of Whom Required and for What: 

The Senators and Representatives above mentioned, and 
the members of the several State Legislatures, and all 
executive and judicial officers, both of the United States 
and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affir¬ 
mation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test 
shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or 
public trust under the United States. 


ARTICLE VII 

RATIFICATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION 

The ratification of the conventions of nine States shall 
be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution be¬ 
tween the States so ratifying the same. 

Done in Convention by the unanimous consent of the 
States present the seventeenth day of September in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the United 
States of America the twelfth. IN WITNESS whereof 
we have hereunto subscribed our names. 

Geo. Washington, 
Presid’t and deputy from Virginia. 



Constitution 


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NEW HAMPSHIRE 
John Langdon, 

Nicholas Gilman. 

MASSACHUSETTS 
Nathaniel Gorham, 

Rufus King. 

CONNECTICUT 
Wm. Sami. Johnson, 

Roger Sherman. 

NEW YORK 
Alexander Hamilton. 

NEW JERSEY 
Wil. Livingston, 

Wm. Paterson, 

David Brearley, 

Jona. Dayton. 

PENNSYLVANIA 
B. Franklin, 

Robt. Morris, 

Thomas Fitzsimons, 

James Wilson, 

Thomas Mifflin, 

Geo. Clymer, 

Jared Ingersoll, 

Gouv. Morris. 

Attest: William 


DELAWARE 
Geo. Read, 

John Dickinson, 

Jaco. Broom, 

Gunning Bedford, Jr., 

Richard Bassett. 

MARYLAND 
James McHenry 
Danl. Carroll, 

Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. 

VIRGINIA 
John Blair, 

James Madison, Jr. 

NORTH CAROLINA 
Wm. Blount, 

Hu. Williamson, 

Richd. Dobbs Spaight. 

SOUTH CAROLINA 
J. Rutledge, 

Charles Pinckney, 

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 
Pierce Butler. 

GEORGIA 
William Few, 

Abr. Baldwin. 

Jackson, Secretary. 




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AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 
ARTICLE I 

Religion, Free Speech, Redress for Grievances : 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or 
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the 
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition 
the government for a redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II 

Right to Keep and Bear Anns'. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security 
of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear 
arms shall not be infringed. 

ARTICLE III 

Re Housing of Soldiers : 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any 
house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of 
war but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV 

Right of Search and Seizure'. 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches 
and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall 
issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oaths or 
affirmations, and particularly describing the place to be 
searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 

ARTICLE V 

Trial and Punishment—Private Property Rights : 

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or other¬ 
wise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment 
of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or 
naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in 
time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be sub- 





Constitution 


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ject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of 
life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case 
to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, 
liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall 
private property be taken for public use, without just 
compensation. 


ARTICLE VI 
Right to Speedy Trial : 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the 
right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury 
of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been 
committed, which district shall have been previously 
ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and 
cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the wit¬ 
nesses against him; to have compulsory process for ob¬ 
taining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance 
of counsel for his defense. 

ARTICLE VII 


Trial by Jury. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy 
shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall 
be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be other¬ 
wise re-examined in any court of the United States than 
according to the rules of the common law. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Excessive Bail—Cruel Punishments Prohibited: 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX 
Enumeration of Rights of Citit^ens: 

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights 
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others re¬ 
tained by the people. 





Americanism 230 Constitution 


ARTICLE X 

State Rights'. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the 
Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re¬ 
served to the States respectively, or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI 

Judicial Power: 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be 
construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, com¬ 
menced or prosecuted against one of the United States by 
citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any 
foreign state. 


ARTICLE XII 

Method of Choosing President and Vice President : 

The electors shall meet in their respective states and 
vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of 
whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the' same 
state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the 
person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the 
person vcited for as Vice President, and they shall make 
distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of 
all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the 
number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign 
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the 
government of the United States, directed to the Presi¬ 
dent of the Senate; The President of the Senate shall, in 
presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open 
all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted 
I he person having the greatest number of votes for Presi¬ 
dent shall be the President, if such number be a majority 
ot the whole number of electors appointed; and if no 
person have such majority, then from the persons having 
the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of 
those voted for as President, the House of Representatives 
shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President But 
m choosing the President, the vote shall be taken by 
Mates, the representation from each State having one 



Constitution 


231 


Americanism 


vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a mem¬ 
ber or members from two-thirds of the States, and a ma¬ 
jority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And 
if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi¬ 
dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon 
them, before the fourth day of March next following, 
then the Vice President shall act as President, as in the 
case of the death or other constitutional disability of the 
President. The person having the greatest number of 
votes as Vice President shall be the Vice President, if such 
number be a majority of the whole number of electors ap¬ 
pointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the 
two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose 
the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist 
of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a 
majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a 
choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the 
office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice Presi¬ 
dent of the United States. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Slavery Abolished: 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, 
except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall 
have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United 
States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this 
article by appropriate legislation. 

ARTICLE XIV 

Citizenship Rights Not to be Abridged : 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United 
States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens 
of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. 
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge 
the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United 
States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, 
liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny 
to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection 
of the laws. 



A mericanism 


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Appointment of Representatives : 

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among 
the several States according to their respective numbers, 
counting the whole number of persons in each state, ex¬ 
cluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at 
any election for the choice of electors for President and 
Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in 
Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State, 
or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to 
any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty- 
one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in 
any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, 
or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be 
reduced in the proportion which the number of such male 
citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 
twenty-one years of age in such State. 

Public Official Debarred: 

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representa¬ 
tive in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, 
or hold any office, civil or military, under the United 
States, or under any State, who, having previously taken 
an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the 
United States, or as a member of any State legislature, 
or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to sup¬ 
port the Constitution of the United States, shall have 
engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or 
given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress 
may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such 
disability. 

Public Debt Responsibilities : 

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United 
States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for 
payment of pensions and bounties for service in suppres¬ 
sing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But 
neither the United States nor any State shall assume to pay 
any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or 
rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the 
loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, 
obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. 





Constitution 


233 


Americanism 


Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, 
by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV 
Equal Rights for Negro and White : 

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to 
vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States 
or by any State on account of race, color, or previous 
condition of servitude. 

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce 
this article by appropriate legislation. 

ARTICLE XVI 
Income Tax (Federal): 

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes 
on incomes, from whatever source derived, without ap¬ 
portionment among the several States, and without regard 
to any census or enumeration. 

ARTICLE XVII 

U. S. Senators Elected by Direct Vote : 

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of 
two Senators from each State, elected by the people there¬ 
of, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. 
The electors in each state shall have the qualifications re¬ 
quisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the 
State Legislature. 

Governor to Fill Vacancy : 

When vacancies happen in the representation of any 
State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State 
shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Pro¬ 
vided, That the Legislature of any State may empower 
the executive thereof to make temporary appointments 
until the people fill the vacancies by election as the Legis¬ 
lature may direct. 

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect 
the election or term of any Senator chosen before it be¬ 
comes valid as part of the Constitution. 





Americanism 


234 


Constitution 


ARTICLE XVIII 
National Prohibition : 

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this 
article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicat¬ 
ing liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the 
exportation thereof from the United States and all terri¬ 
tory subject to the jurisdiction thereof, for beverage pur¬ 
poses is hereby prohibited. 

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall 
have concurrent power to enforce this article by appro¬ 
priate legislation. 

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it 
shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Consti¬ 
tution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided 
in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of 
the submission hereof to the States by the Congress. 

ARTICLE XIX 
Nationwide Woman Suffrage : 

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any 
State on account of sex. 

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 





Our Presidents 


235 


Americanism 


Addenda 


Our Presidents 




Americanism 236 Our Presidents 


THE WHITE HOUSE 


WARREN G. HARDING 
President of the United States of America 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 55. 

Baptist. 

Ohio Central, 1884. 

Ohio. Began 1921. 

Born, 1865, Corsica, Ohio. 

Newspaper Publisher. 

Died August 2, 1923, in 
San Francisco, California. 

Calvin Coolidge, succeeding. 









Our Presidents 


237 


Americanism 


TWENTY-NINE PRESIDENTS 

HERE have been 29 Presidents of the 
United States of America. Eight Pres¬ 
idents have served two full terms con¬ 
secutively. Cleveland also served two 
terms, but as the twenty-second and the 
twenty-fourth Chief Executive. No President 
has served more than two terms, and William 
H. Harrison, the ninth incumbent, served only 
one month, owing to death. 

Washington, the first President, is the only 
one that has been elected unanimously. 

Three Presidents, Thomas Jefferson, John 
Quincy Adams and Rutherford B. Hayes, were 
chosen to fill the office of President by the 
House of Representatives. Hayes was chosen 
by a special committee of the House. 

THREE PRESIDENTS ASSASSINATED 

Three Presidents have been assassinated. 
Lincoln was shot April 14, 1865, by Wilkes 
Booth, an actor, in Ford's Theatre, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C. Booth was shot and killed by Sergt. 
Boston Corbett, April 26, 1865, while resisting 
capture. 







Americanism 


238 


Our Presidents 


Garfield was shot by Charles Jules Guiteau, 
while in the Pennsylvania Station, Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., July 2, 1881, and died at Elberna, 
Long Beach, N. J., September 19, 1881. His 
assassin was hanged at Washington, D. C., 
June 30, 1882. 

McKinley was shot September 6, 1901, by 
Louis Czolgosz, while in the Temple of Music, 
at the Pan-American Exposition, being held at 
Buffalo, and died at the home of John C. Mil- 
burn, Buffalo, September 14, 1901. The assas¬ 
sin was electrocuted at Auburn State Prison, 
N. Y., October 29, 1901. 

Jackson was shot at by a house painter 
named Richard Lawrence, in the Capitol City, 
but the pistol missed fire. 

Ex-President Roosevelt was fired at and 
wounded, by John Schrank, an insane man, 
while at Milwaukee, Wis., October 14, 1912. 

OLDEST AND YOUNGEST PRESIDENT 

W. H. Harrison was 68 when elected to the 
Presidency, being the oldest citizen to assume 
that office, and Roosevelt was the youngest, 
being elected at the age of 42. 

John Adams, the second President, was the 
father of John Quincy Adams, the sixth Presi¬ 
dent, and Benjamin Harrison, the twenty- 



Our Presidents 


239 


Americanism 


third President, was the grandson of the ninth 
President, W. H. Harrison. 

The State of Ohio has sent the largest num¬ 
ber of sons to the White House; seven in num¬ 
ber, with Virginia and New York second; four 
in number. 

ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE 

The site for the White House was selected 
by President Washington, who together with 
Major Peter Charles L’Enfant laid out the 
City of Washington, in 1791. 

The original cost of the Executive Mansion 
was defrayed from the sale of property do¬ 
nated by the Carrolls of Maryland and others 
of Virginia. 

James Hoban, a Dublin architect, made the 
plans, being successful in an architects compe¬ 
tition. The cornerstone was laid October 13, 
1792. 

President John Adams and wife were the 
first to occupy the White House, doing so in 
November, 1800. 

The White House was burned in 1814 by 
British soldiers, and Mr. Hoban superintended 
its reconstruction. 





Americanism 


240 


Our Presidents 


The principal apartments in the White 
House are officially designated: the East 
Room, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, 
State Dining Room, Family Dining Room, and 
Usher’s Lobby. There are a Family Floor, a 
main stairway, and a private staircase and ele¬ 
vators. 

The dimensions of the White House, in 1840, 
were length or frontage, 170 feet; depth or 
width, 86 feet. The mansion was built of gray 
sandstone, which was painted white after the 
fire, hence the name “the White House.” Arch¬ 
itect Hoban had modelled the structure after 
the palace of the Duke of Leinster. 

The President’s Office Building is located at 
the West of the White House. It was built and 
occupied in 1902, and was enlarged later. The 
building contains the President’s Room, the 
Cabinet Room, a room for the President’s Sec¬ 
retary, a telegraph room, a press room, and 
rooms for the clerical force. 



Our Presidents 


241 


Americanism 


OUR PRESIDENTS 



1. GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

Virginia. Two terms, 1789-1797. 
Born, 1732, Bridges Creek, Va. Died 
1799. 

Surveyor, farmer, soldier, statesman. 
Elected by whole people. 

Age 57. 

Episcopalian. 



2. JOHN ADAMS. 

Massachusetts. One term, 1797-1801 
Born, 1735, Braintree, Mass. Died 
1826. 

Lawyer, statesman. 

Harvard, 1755. 

Elected by Federalists. 

Age 61. 

Unitarian. 



3. THOMAS JEFFERSON. 

Virginia. Two terms, 1801-1809. 
Born, 1743, Shadwell, Va. Died 1826. 
Lawyer, statesman. 

William and Mary, 1762. 

Elected by Republicans (Now termed 
Democrats). 

Age 57. 

Liberal. 






Americanism 


242 


Our Presidents 



4. JAMES MADISON. 

Virginia. Two terms, 1809-1817. 
Born, 1751, Port Conway, Va. Died 
1836. 

Lawyer, clergyman, statesman. 
Princeton, 1771. 

Elected by Republicans (Now termed 
Democrats.) 

Age 57. 

Episcopalian. 



5. JAMES MONROE. 

Virginia. Two terms,. 1817-1825. 
Born, 1758, Westmoreland County, 
Va. Died 1831. 

Soldier, lawyer, statesman. 

William and Mary, 1776. 

Elected by Republicans (Now termed 
Democrats.) 

Age 58. 

Episcopalian. 



6. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 

Massachusetts. One term, 1825-1829. 
Born, 1767, Braintree, Mass. Died 
1848. 

Lawyer, statesman. 

Harvard, 1787. 

Elected by House of Representatives. 

Age 57 

Unitarian. 



Our Presidents 


243 


Americanism 


7. 


ANDREW JACKSON. 

Tennessee. Two terms, 1829-1837. 
Born, 1767, Waxhaw Settlement, N. 

Car. Died 1845. 

Statesman, lawyer, soldier. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 61. 

Presbyterian. 




8. MARTIN VAN BUREN. 

New York. One term, 1837-1841. 
Born, 1781, Kinderhook, N. Y. Died 
1862. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 54. 

Reform Dutch. 



WILLIAM H. HARRISON. 

Ohio. One month, 1841. (Death.) 
Born, 1773, Berkeley, Va. Died 1841. 
Soldier, statesman. 

Hampden-Sidney, 1790. 

Elected by Whigs. 

Age 68. 

Episcopalian. 






Americanism 


244 


Our Presidents 



10. JOHN TYLER. 

Ohio. Three years, eleven months, 
1841-1845. (Completing Harrison’s 
term.) 

Born, 1790, Charles City County, Va. 
Died 1862. 

Lawyer, statesman, soldier. 

William and Mary, 1807. 

Elected V. Pres, by Whigs. 

Age 51. 

Episcopalian. 



11. JAMES K. POLK. 

Tennessee. One term, 1845-1849. 
Born, 1795, Mecklenburg County, N. 

Car. Died 1849. 

Lawyer, statesman. 

University of North Carolina, 1818. 
Elected by Democrats. 

Age 49. 

Presbyterian. 



12. ZACHARY TAYLOR. 

Louisiana. One year and four months, 
1849-1850. (Death.) 

Born, 1784, Orange County, Va. Died 
1850. 

Soldier, statesman. 

Elected by Whigs. 

Age 64. 

Episcopalian. 





Our Presidents 


245 


Americanism 



13. MILLARD FILLMORE; 

New York. Two years, eight months, 
1850-1853. (Completing Taylor’s 
term.) 

Born, 1800, Locke, N. Y. Died 1874. 
School teacher, lawyer, statesman. 
Elected V. Pres, by Whigs. 

Age 50. 

Unitarian. 



14. FRANKLIN PIERCE. 

New Hampshire. One term, 1853-1857. 
Born, 1804, Hillsboro, New Hamp. 

Died 1869. 

Soldier, statesman. 

Bowdoin, 1824. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 48. 

Episcopalian. 



15. JAMES BUCHANAN. 

Pennsylvania. One term, 1857-1861. 
Born, 1791, Franklin County, Pa. Died 
1868. 

Lawyer, statesman, soldier. 

Dickinson, 1809. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 65. 

Presbyterian. 








A mericanism 


246 


Our Presidents 



16. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 

Illinois. One term, six weeks, 1861- 
1865. (Assassinated.) 

Born, 1809, Hardin County, Ken. 

Died 1865. 

Lawyer, statesman. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 52. 

Presbyterian. 



17. ANDREW JOHNSON. 

Tennessee. Three years, ten and one- 
half months, 1865-1869. (Complet¬ 
ing Lincoln’s term.) 

Born, 1808, Raleigh, N. Car. Died 
1875. 

Statesman. 

Elected V. Pres, by Republicans. 

Age 56. 

Methodist. 



18. ULYSSES S. GRANT. 

Illinois. Two terms, 1869-1877. 

Born, 1822, Point Pleasant, Ohio. 

Died 1885: 

General, statesman. 

West Point, 1843. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 46. 

Methodist. 




Our Presidents 


247 


Americanism 



19. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 

Ohio. One term, 1877-1881. 

Born, 1822, Delaware, O. Died 1893. 
Soldier. 

Kenyon, 1842. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 54. 

Methodist. 



20. JAMES A. GARFIELD. 

Ohio. Six months, fifteen days, 1881. 
(Assassinated.) 

Born, 1831, Orange, O. Died 1881. 
Educator, soldier. 

Williams, 1856. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 49. 

Disciples. 



21. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 

New York. Three years, five months, 
fifteen days, 1881-1885. (Complet¬ 
ing Garfield’s term.) 

Born, 1830, Fairfield, Ver. Died 1886. 
Lawyer. 

Union, 1848. 

Elected V. Pres, by Republicans. 

Age 50. 

Episcopalian. 







A mericanism 


248 


Our Presidents 



22. GROVER CLEVELAND. 

New York. One term, 1885-1889. 
Born, 1837, Caldwell, N. J. Died 1908. 
Lawyer. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 47. 

Presbyterian. 


23. BENJAMIN HARRISON. 

Indiana. One term, 1889-1893. 

Born, 1833, North Bend, O. Died 1901. 
Soldier, lawyer. 

Miami, 1853. 

Ejected by Republicans. 

Age 55. 

Presbyterian. 


24. GROVER CLEVELAND. 

New York. One term, 1893-1897. (See 
above.) 

Age 55. 



25. WILLIAM McKINLEY. 

Ohio. One term, six months, ten days, 
1897-1901. (Assassinated.) 

Born, 1843, Niles, O. Died 1901. 
Soldier, lawyer. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 54. 

Presbyterian. 



Our Presidents 


249 


Americanism 



26. THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 

New York. Two terms lacking six 
months, ten days, 1901-1909. (Com¬ 
pleting McKinley’s term); then 
elected. 

Born, 1858, New York City. Died 
1919. 

Soldier; lawyer. 

Harvard, 1880. 

Elected by Republicans first, as Vice 
Pres., then President. 

Age 42. 

Reform Dutch. 



27. WILLIAM H. TAFT. 

Ohio. One term, 1909-1913. 

Born, 1857, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Lawyer, College Professor. (Yale Law 
School.) 

Yale, 1878. 

Elected by Republicans. 

Age 51. 

Unitarian. 



28. WOODROW WILSON. 

New Jersey. Two terms, 1913-1921. 
Born, 1856, Staunton, Va. 

Lawyer, College President. (Prince¬ 
ton.) 

Princeton, 1879. 

Elected by Democrats. 

Age 56. 

Presbyterian. 

29. WARREN G. HARDING. 

See page 236. 





250 


A mericanism 


Our Presidents 



30. CALVIN COOLIDGE 

President of the United States of 
America. 

Began unexpired term of Warren G. 

Harding, August 3, 1923. 

Born, 1872, Plymouth, Vermont. 
Amherst, 1895. 

Congregationalist. 

Lawyer; Governor, Massachusetts. 
Elected Vice President by Republi¬ 
cans, 1921. 

Age 51. 

















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